Intentionally designed to not look like a traditional religious space, Eastview Christian church sits on a crest of hill among 95 acres of farmland. Beginning as a master plan and adding subsequent additions to address the growing congregation, the space now accommodates worship, teaching and recreation venues.
Keeping with their intentionally non-traditional church aesthetic, Eastview Christian Church added an outdoor amphitheater to their expansive 95-acre campus in Normal, IL. The amphitheater features a combination of built-in and movable seating options to accommodate a variety of activities, from small-group gatherings and worship services to weddings.
How do we create a new campus master plan that allows a growing church to fulfill it's ministry purpose?
A 25-year long growth and expansion plan.
- 2,500 seat auditorium
- Spacious public atrium
- Cafe
- Water feature
- Family Life Center
- Bookstore
- Outdoor recreation space
- Children's auditorium
- Youth auditorium and gym
- Children's nursery
- Staff offices
- Outdoor amphitheater and activity space
- 60,000 pound witness rock
- Gas fire pits
- Multi-functional outdoor seating
Responding to the need for more space for children and youth, the church embarked on an expansion project to address their growing needs. The addition and redesign of spaces for pre-school through senior high youth provided several age-appropriate worship spaces, a multi-court gymnasium with configurations for worship and sporting venues, and the renovation of an existing gym to address the church's much needed space for weddings.
Multi-use space not only provides ample room for play, learning, and worship, but also allows for more effective supervision of children.
The rock is a symbolic representation of the Bible verse of Joshua 24:27, which says, “‘See!’ he said to all the people. ‘This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the LORD has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God.’”
Built in 1882, St. Columba Catholic Church was in need of preservation and restoration. The church was searching to find a solution for major exterior deterioration issues. As a significant landmark in Ottawa, it was important to develop a 100-year solution, not just a 20-year solution.
A growing church in Bloomington, Illinois wanted to create a "safe place to explore faith." BLDD worked with Vale Church to develop a long-term plan for the future. The first step of the plan involved 29,000 s.f. and includes a modern worship space, classrooms for Christian Education, and a large gathering space. The bright and inviting gathering space helps to create a sense of belonging and acceptance to visitors and attendees. As the church grows within the community, the master plan allows for future expansion up to 100,000 s.f.
BLDD designed a new facility to replace Bethany’s existing church and to provide much needed space for this growing congregation. The 50-acre site was master planned for 1,200 parking spaces with site amenities including a water feature, vehicular circulation, softball field, soccer field, and a picnic shelter.