WFX Awards » Solomon Awards » Best Church Design New Project (1 - 800 seats)

Nominee: Tunnell-Spangler-Wlash & Assoc

Project: Woodstock Community Church

URL: www.tunspan.com
          

Size: 1-300 seats

Date Completed: 9-Jan-11

Description:

How does a non-denominational community church reinvigorate itself while staying true to its core goals of being “about community, not about program?”

Woodstock Community Church, located in the growing rural town of Woodstock, GA (35 miles north of Atlanta), found its answer in a God-given opportunity to build an entirely new facility.  After some 20 years in an aging traditional church building that was not conducive to the church’s spiritual growth, WCC sold its old building and purchased a wooded site just a mile from the town center.  The search for a new design was underway.

Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh & Associates, Architects, was brought in to provide the design solution.  From the first meeting, TSW focused on clearly understanding WCC’s message and ministry, and importantly, the physical character WCC wanted its facility to display to the community.  Embracing the Church’s vision of a more natural, organic ministry that emphasized intimacy over grandness, the design process focused on the creation of multiple gathering spaces characterized by natural light and fresh, contemporary finishes.  Through a truly collaborative effort between the ministers and the designer, a forward leaning ‘Woodland Modernism’ theme was deemed appropriate for WCC’s diverse congregation.

The design solution for the 19,000 square foot facility creates three individual structures—the 300-seat Sanctuary; the Fellowship Hall, accommodating weekly dining and basketball events; and the Educational Wing designed for a future second floor expansion— each with its own distinctive form and site orientation.  A central gathering space and two exterior courtyards link the structures.  True to the Church’s goal of enhanced community fellowship, this organic design approach capitalizes on the four-acre woodland site.  Views to the outdoors are emphasized in the design (even in the Sanctuary).  The central gathering room, with its public coffee shop, opens to the bordering City trail system.  And the design’s angular geometry creates a variety of interesting fellowship spaces.  Internally, natural stone and locally milled and fabricated birch and walnut hardwoods accent the Sanctuary and main lobby, continuing the woodland modern syntax.  Externally, the off-white/warm gray/green color scheme reinforces the desired contemporary imagery.

Realization of the design was achieved within a very modest construction budget of $2,530,000.  Although outwardly not appearing as such, the Sanctuary and the Fellowship Hall utilize a pre-engineered metal frame and roof for economy.  A thoughtful blending of exposed ceiling elements (structure, HVAC) with fully finished walls also contribute to the facility’s economy.

The new facility is proving to be successful.  Attendance at all services is on the rise.  With the new Fellowship Hall and kitchen, the Wednesday Night Services have grown form 12 to 150.  Community uses such as drama & music classes, home school support programs and AA classes occur now on a weekly basis, taking advantage of the properly sized classrooms, ample toilets and multi-use spaces.

Minister Greg Michael says, “We are now blessed with a building tailored to our ministryàthe joy of knowing Christ and making Him known has been enhanced and we are grateful for that.”