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.
The design team started with this long term goal in mind, and worked with St. Columba to develop an overall master plan for church facilities. The plan looked at all current unresolved maintenance issues in a larger scope and incorporated a plan that would be followed for the ongoing care and upkeep of the newly restored facilities. The parish wanted a long-term (100-year) solution, so the design team developed a two-phase plan to address all of the church’s needs. Phase 1 was the exterior renovation and restoration; and in order to fund the projects, the Parish raised funds through a capital campaign.
- Long-term preservation/restoration plan
- New slate roof
- Repaired/restored original stained glass
- Additional accessibility
- New front doors
How do we resolve maintenance issues in a larger scope and incorporate a plan that would be followed for the ongoing care and upkeep of the newly restored facilities?
Developed a two-phase overall master plan for church facilities; while the Parish raised funds through a capital campaign.
This allowed for the restoration of the historical facade while preserving the integrity of the original design. Original hand-painted panes that were deteriorated were laminated to maintain the handwork and integrity of the original artist. New slate roof was installed with vents to allow the attic (which was not insulated) to be insulated to increase energy efficiency.
Willow Crystal Lake started with a vision for a space that could reach out to the community and serve as many people as possible. We helped them create a master plan that is a direct reflection of the core convictions and mission of the church. The open and inviting design is an intentional feature that connects the building to the site and the entire community. The goal of Phase 1 was to create a new worship center and then use as much of the existing structure for all of the other ministry spaces.
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.
The multi-purpose venue provides a place for all students, faculty and staff to come together and worship in one place. Amidst a bustling campus it is a sacred place that is inspiring and supports the spiritual life of the campus community. At the same time, it accommodates with excellence a wide range of worship and performance activities and has become an outreach tool for the larger community outside the ONU campus.