A new three-story education building was added to an existing church campus, creating dedicated spaces for children’s and youth ministries alongside flexible gathering spaces.
Details
Warrensburg, MO
Architect: BRP Architects (formerly Butler, Rosenbury & Partners)
58,750 sf
A new three-story education building was added to an existing church campus, creating dedicated spaces for children’s and youth ministries alongside flexible gathering spaces. Delivered across two construction phases, the addition was designed to maximize natural light, energy efficiency, and age-appropriate programming.
The building’s exterior palette included cast stone, brick veneer, and aluminum curtain wall systems, while the entry utilized exposed, ground, and polished concrete floors. Child-scaled doors were installed at preschool and kindergarten classrooms, and vibrant primary colors were used throughout the interior finishes to create an energetic, developmentally appropriate environment. A themed café and food service area was designed to reference an old-time diner, adding character to the gathering spaces.
Natural daylighting was a priority throughout, so considered window placement and curtain systems were incorporated into classrooms and gathering areas. Acoustical ceiling clouds address reverberant sound while also contributing to the architectural character of the space. Audio, video, and sound systems were integrated into the children’s worship venues. An exposed cantilevered drop-off canopy provides weather protection at the building entry. HVAC building controls were programmed to optimize energy efficiency during both peak-use and unoccupied periods.
“Pearce walked with us through the planning stages as our architects designed our building, attending numerous meetings over a year’s period of time. They gave us an upfront cost estimate of what the, building would cost. Doing this allowed us to know what our financial package needed to be.”