Needing to combine the church and school ministries to one campus, a master plan was developed for Bethel Lutheran Church in Morton, Illinois. A new 28,285 s.f. church building that houses a sanctuary with balcony, parish hall, administrative office suite, nursery, and children’s education space was built adjacent to the existing Bethel Lutheran School.
The new Narthex is an inviting area that serves as the church’s gathering space with a Welcome Center and a coffee and donut counter. The Sanctuary was designed specifically for the church’s three types of worship services: traditional with an organ, contemporary with a band and a combination of the two that uses all the instruments. The spaces are enhanced with exposed steel trusses at the high ceilings, and wood and stone details throughout.
How do we combine the church and school ministries to one campus?
Developed a master plan that included a new 28,285 s.f. church building with a sanctuary, parish hall, administrative office suite, nursery and children’s education space built adjacent to the existing Bethel Lutheran School.
- Large worship space with balcony
- Children's education space
- Gathering space and welcome center
- 7,000 s.f. addition to the school for future classrooms/storm refuge room
- Natural light from the clerestory highlights the 25-foot-high wall of natural stone
- Exposed steel trusses at the high ceilings; wood and stone details throughout.
- Natural stone at the exterior building corner
- Canopy tower along with brick on the exterior compliments the school’s red brick facade
St. John's Lutheran Church in Bloomington, IL has a large building with multiple floor levels and entrances. BLDD was hired to create a master plan that would accommodate growth in their various kids ministries and worship services. After much collaboration, a two-phase plan was created to renovate the existing 10,000 sq. ft and create a 10,000 sq. ft addition.
West Side Christian Church (WSCC) located in Springfield, IL, is a growing congregation looking to serve God and their community in bigger ways. WSCC worked with the religious design experts at BLDD to complete a master plan that facilitates their growth through the expansion of their Kids Ministry space, the creation of a new entryway, a large worship center, and environmental graphics to increase visibility and branding.
Built in 1925, the historic First United Methodist Church of Lincoln, IL, was renovated to restore their aging facilities and add a new accessible entryway and lobby. The new main lobby welcomes visitors with an open and inviting atmosphere that uses the exterior walls of the previous courtyard to blend the historic with the modern design.