Grace Church
When Grace Church sought to construct a permanent home for their Powdersville congregation, they turned to McMillan Pazdan Smith to create a modern but welcoming facility in a rural setting. Planned as part of a larger shared campus, the building needed to be part of a cohesive whole while maintaining its own identity.
The 29,600 SF footprint is comprised of three, pre-engineered metal buildings housing worship spaces and a children’s wing tied together by a conventional steel-framed spine and entry tower. This structure is left exposed inside to contribute to the dynamic, contemporary feel of the Church, featuring tall windows and a clerestory at the entrance. In order to create a more intimate experience upon arrival, a portion of the lobby was partially enclosed and utilizes suspended wood panels above for a warm and relaxed seating lounge separate from the bustling circulation spine. This lounge in turn opens on to an outdoor plaza by means of vertical lift glass doors that can be opened wide for functions utilizing the plaza.
The exterior look creates distinguished forms by use of the same metal panels in two separate shades and orientation. The entrances are set off by custom canopies and polished masonry. The resulting building is flexible and functional without sacrificing identity or missing the owner’s budget. The project completed in early 2014.