preservation

WILLIAMSON ROAD CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN, ROANOKE, VIRGINIA – Originally organized in 1948, the Williamson Road Church of the Brethren moved to its present location on Pioneer Road in 1951. Since that time various additions had been constructed to the facility, but in early 1980s Dimensional Dynamics was hired to design and oversee the construction of the largest addition which would include Education Classrooms, Offices, a Library, and an Entrance Narthex/Fellowship/Dinning Hall. The final design unified the overall facility and created a functional solution that offered many multi-use options for ministry programs within the church. Please enjoy taking a look at this project completed in 1987.

PROPOSED MASTER PLAN RENDERING

SITE PLAN

UPPER LEVEL FLOOR PLAN

LOWER LEVEL PLAN

DINNING LAYOUT OPTIONS

CONSTRUCTION UNDER WAY

CLASSROOM

NARTHEX/DINNING AREA

LIBRARY AREA

COMPLETED EXTERIOR

COMPLETED EXTERIOR SHOWING CAR DROP-OFF

COMPLETED EXTERIOR

WILLIAMSON ROAD CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Haverhill, Massachusetts – Founded in 1898 with only 23 members, First Presbyterian Church was originally located on Summer Street in Haverhill, MA but was destroyed in a severe fire in 1982. After sometime without a permanent church home, the congregation eventually purchased a new empty lot at the corner of Broadway and Carleton Streets. It was then that they contacted Dimensional Dynamics to aid them in preparing a Master Plan for the site and in guiding them through the construction of both Phases One in 1986, and Two in 2002, of their new facility.

1986 MASTER PLAN – RENDERING

2002 REVISED MASTER PLAN – SITE PLAN

2002 REVISED MASTER PLAN – MAIN LEVEL

2002 REVISED MASTER PLAN – UPPER LEVEL

2002 REVISED MASTER PLAN – ELEVATIONS

PHASE ONE SACTUARY CONSTRUCTION

PHASE ONE EXTERIOR – UNDER CONSTRUCTION

PHASE ONE COMPLETED EXTERIOR

PHASE TWO UNDER CONSTRUCTION – FELLOWSHIP HALL

PHASE TWO – COMPLETED EXTERIOR

COMPLETED SANCTUARY

COMPLETED FACILITY – CURRENT CONFIGURATION

STAINED GLASS WINDOW

TRINITY UNITED CHURCH, Wallaceburg-Ontario, Canada – in 1978, Trinity United Church suffered a devastating fire which totally destroyed their facility. Dimensional Dynamics aided this church with choosing a site for their new facility within the City limits which afforded them the use of many public and private parking facilities within a two-block radius. Dimensional Dynamics then worked with Trinity United in writing of a program of space needs and in laying out a design that would offer them weekly on-site parking and a flexible functional facility that would meet the ministry needs but also address the church’s desire for low energy consumption. This energy reduction was primarily accomplished with higher R-factors in the walls ans ceilings and zoned heating based on the programs use; insulated window shutters; double glazing of the exterior windows and entrance vestibules. Finally, when architectural services were need in the preparation of construction documents, Dimensional Dynamics worked to associate as the designer with a local architect, James H. Jordan, located in Chatham, Ontario. When completed, the church stated in a letter to our Founder, L. Gordon Bucy: “Thanks to your help, and God’s blessing, we have a church building in which we have great pride and still have money left over in the bank! We could not have expected such good fortune in the normal course of events.” Please enjoy taking a look at this project constructed in 1980.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_nnRADkU6w

RENDERING OF PROPOSED FACILITY

PROPOSED SITE AND FLOOR PLAN

PROPOSED FLOOR PLAN

WINDOW – Article 1979, Page 1

WINDOW – Article, Page 2

WINDOW – Article, Page 3

SANCTUARY

VIEW TOWARDS CHANCEL

CHANCEL

CHOIR

ENTRANCE NARTHEX AND OVERFLOW

KITCHEN

ENTRANCE DROP-OFF

STEEPLE

CALVARY ROAD CHURCH OF GOD, Carlisle, Pennsylvania – This wonderful project incorporated Dimensional Dynamics’ sensitivity to energy efficiency in the Master Plan design and the construction of Phase One. Now called Lighthouse Church of God, the approved Phase One design added much needed administration space and a new entrance and gathering space to an existing two story church facility. The primary focus, to create a functional addition that would allow for future growth on this site, was also balanced by the need to create an energy efficient solution that would enable this church to save significant funds in their heating costs. At a time when energy cost were soaring in our country, church facilities everywhere were being burdened by sudden fuel costs that were unheard of previously. For most churches, having one large boiler to heat the entire facility was the norm, even when vast portions of that facility were not being used everyday. Dimensional Dynamics was, and still is, highly sensitive to the financial burden churches have when maintaining their facilities. The idea of heating and cooling any facility with one unit, even when zoned, has created onerous costs for churches across America as the cost of fuel has risen. For this project, the prospect of savings led to a delightful addition and renovation of and Historic Resource in the town of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Please enjoy taking a look at this project constructed in 1981.

CURRENT FACILITY

EXISTING SITE PLAN

PROPOSED SITE – MASTER PLAN

PROPOSED MASTER PLAN

“THE GUIDE” – ARTICLE ABOUT THE CHURCH DESIGN AND OUR FOUNDING PARTNER, REV. L. GORDON BUCY

EXISTING CHURCH FACILITY

PHASE ONE UNDER CONSTRUCTION

SOLAR TOWER UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Over the last forty-five years, Dimensional Dynamics has served churches across the United States with architectural and planning services to meet their ministry and facility needs. This is our main focus and purpose – to serve churches in an area where they are in their greatest need. It is rare for a church to have expertise in church facility design, in the preparation of construction documents, and in the administration of those documents during construction. In fact this is not what they are called to do; so when our founder Rev. L. Gordon Bucy found himself in the midst of three different building programs at the churches he served, he realized that it was not just the church who was lacking in this expertise, but also the local architects who did not know how churches function.

Churches are a unique blend of members, the Body of Christ with all its differences when done well, work together in unison and harmony for one purpose, to spread the good news of the Gospel. But when the focus comes off of their purpose for being, Continue Reading

DIMENSIONAL DYNAMICS, Architects and Planners – A Time of Transition

Posted by DIMENSIONAL DYNAMICS, Architects and Planners, Inc. on September 13, 2014

Posted in: Adaptive Reuse. Tagged: adaptive reuse, addition, barn, conversion, enhancement, historic, master plan, preservation, renovation, resources, reuse, stewardship.

It was in 1996 that my previous business partner, Gary Sharp, and I bought 455 Old Baltimore Pike in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania to be our new home for Dimensional Dynamics, Architects and Planners, Inc. The firm had been located since its founding in 1971 by Rev. L. Gordon Bucy, in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania with the exception of the three years we spent in the lower level of Gary’s home in Chadds Ford after the death of Gordon in 1993.

The commercial property we purchased along historic Route One, (which runs along the East Coast from the top of Maine down to bottom of Florida), was Continue Reading

DIMENSIONAL DYNAMICS, Architects and Planners, Inc.

A Full Service Architectural Firm Specializing in Church and Church-Related Facilities Throughout the United States

All posts tagged preservation

THROWBACK THURSDAY – 1987

THROWBACK THURSDAY – 1986/2002

THROWBACK THURSDAY – 1980

THROWBACK THURSDAY – 1981

A Time to Renew the Vision – DIMENSIONAL DYNAMICS, Architects and Planners, Inc.

DIMENSIONAL DYNAMICS, Architects and Planners – A Time of Transition

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