Program Summary: A church designed as a simple, contemporary worship space to attract younger members to an aging congregation.

Transcription

1 Program Summary: A church designed as a simple, contemporary worship space to attract younger members to an aging congregation. Program Statement: In 2008, a small Presbyterian Church was struck by lighting and destroyed by fire. Immediately the congregation dedicated themselves to rebuilding and decided that a simple and minimalist prayer space would be the best solution to the limited funds available through the insurance provider. The resulting structure reaching height of thirty feet along its tallest wall was creatively and economically engineered using spliced 2x6 studs and supplemental steel while the concrete foundation doubles as the interior finished floor. IA Building Area: (sf) 3,500 s.f. Cost per Square Foot: $ Construction Cost $757,800 Date of Completion: October 2012 The focus of the new sanctuary is the chancel wall and an abstracted fishshaped ceiling, both clad in local Louisiana cypress. By utilizing a variety of board widths, the design team provided visual rhythm and texture to enliven the austere worship space. This symbolic reference to Christ, the fish was an inspirational metaphor for the rebuilding efforts. Working with a local craftsman, the fish ceiling s complex curves evolved and abstracted throughout construction. Following its completion, the congregants enjoyed sharing their individual interpretations of the ceiling, often relating it to other religious icons including Noah s Arc. At the chancel wall an aluminum Celtic cross salvaged from the original church was restored and attached to a field of Carrera marble hex tiles. The marble tiles refract the natural and artificial light and glisten like moist fish scales. On the exterior the use of fiber cement shingles also subtly reference fish scales and completes the Christ, the Fish iconography.

2 IA A large geometrically subdivided window located above the chancel frames views skyward and, in a contemporary way, references formal attributes of traditional stained glass window types. The dramatic wood ceiling and vertical cypress boards at the chancel wall draw eyes upward toward the large clerestory window, giving the space a sense of movement and offering views skyward.

3 IA Programmatically, the church is straightforward: Congregants process through a covered porch to the south, into a narthex flanked by support spaces. Upon entering the sanctuary, the building opens up with a soaring ceiling leading to a modern clerestory that floods the church with light and directs views skyward. Behind the chancel, a storage room serves to physically and acoustically separate the sanctuary from the highway beyond.

4 Sustainable Features IA Photovoltaics: a south facing roof orientation roof allows for the future installation of PV panels 2. Structure: dimensional lumber with minimal steel eliminates the need for a pile supported foundation. Minimal site disturbance by using the original building s footprint. 3. Interior finishes: local, reclaimed cypress incorporated throughout. 4. Envelope: fiber cement rainscreen wall assembly with exterior rigid + spray foam insulation greatly reduces radiant solar heat gain. 5. Daylighting: north facing clerestory 6. Solar heat gain: covered porch protects the south façade; no glazing at east or west. 7. Recycled content: elements salvaged from original building. 8. Indoor air: low VOC paints and sealants throughout. 9. Energy efficiency: led lighting and occupancy sensors, high efficiency HVAC equipment. 10. Minimal material usage: stained concrete floor doubles as the building s foundation 11. Occupant comfort: large storage room with super insulation is an acoustical barrier between highway and sanctuary.

5 IA The cypress boards that clad the fish ceiling were installed over a 2x6 wood sub-frame which can be seen in these process photos taken during construction.

6 IA A view upward from the pews reveals the abstracted geometry of the cypress wood fish ceiling.

7 IA At the Narthex a large recessed oculus light softly illuminates the space, whose doors open wide to welcome congregants into the sanctuary before service. Beyond the doors, the aluminum Celtic cross salvaged and restored from the original church is prominently located behind the chancel lectern where scripture is proclaimed. Surrounding the cross are one-inch Carrera marble hex tiles which refract light and create a surface reminiscent of fish scales, completing the Christ, the Fish iconography. The hex tile and cross are framed by cypress wood matching the ceiling and, along with the window above, complete the chancel s composition.

8 IA White walls and a dark tortoise shell stained concrete floor allow the beauty, warmth and texture of the local Louisiana cypress clad celling and cypress pews to be the the main focus of the interior.

9 IA Congregants gathered in celebration during the church s dedication service. In addition to providing a symbolic and spatial form in the sanctuary, the fish ceiling s wood cladding, which sits atop acoustical liner, also services effectively to reduce reverberation during services.

10 IA The aluminum Celtic cross, salvaged from the original church and restored, is proximately located behind the chancel lectern where scripture is proclaimed. Surrounding the cross are small 1" Carrera Marble hexagon tiles that refract light and create a surface reminiscent of fish scales. The fish ceiling s cypress boards were carefully arranged during installation to create a varied and rhythmic pattern.

11 IA The aluminum Celtic cross, salvaged from the original church and restored, is proximately located behind the chancel lectern where scripture is proclaimed. Surrounding the cross are small 1" Carrera Marble hexagon tiles that refract light and create a surface reminiscent of fish scales. The fish ceiling s cypress boards were carefully arranged during installation to create a varied and rhythmic pattern.

12 IA Subtle detailing and the use of familiar materials throughout the space adds depth to the parishioners experience while maintaining a feeling of serenity and peacefulness.

13 IA Detail image of the tail joint of the fish ceiling, above the entry from the narthex.

14 Project Name: Jefferson Presbyterian Church Project Location: 4450 Jefferson Highway Jefferson, LA Owner/Client: Jefferson Presbyterian Church Architect(s) of Record: studiowta 1119 Tchoupitoulas Street New Orleans, LA Photographer(s): Photographer Slide No: Neil Alexander 9 Franny S Photography 2, 6-7, Chad Chenier 8 Leland Patrick Bennett 5 IA115.x Credit Slide Project Team: Julie A. Babin Ross Karsen Wayne Troyer Landscape Architect: Amann & Associates Consultants: Kyle Associates, L.L.C. GVA Engineering, L.LC. Fine Wood Flooring General Contractor: Voelkel McWilliams Construction, L.L.C.