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.
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.
- Long-term preservation/restoration plan
- New slate roof
- Repaired/restored original stained glass
- Additional accessibility
- New front doors
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.
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 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.
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.