A multi-building campus expansion delivered two major facilities: a 1,600-seat sanctuary addition and a three-story family life center, each presenting distinct design and construction challenges.
Details
Lenexa, KS
Architect: Church Architecture
40,377 sf (Sanctuary Addition) / 44,643 sf (Family Life Center)
This multi-building campus expansion delivered two major facilities: a 1,600-seat sanctuary addition and a three-story family life center, each presenting distinct design and construction challenges.
The sanctuary addition included new lobby spaces, a kitchen, gathering and education areas, and a library and bookstore alongside the main worship hall. Throughout construction, parking management was a priority: movable construction fencing was repositioned each weekend to maximize available parking stalls for congregants, then restored to a safe worksite configuration Monday through Friday. Inside, 16-ft by 16-ft drywall acoustic “clouds” were suspended above the seating area to manage room acoustics and create a visually striking ceiling. Loge and balcony structural systems were constructed to optimize sightlines to the worship stage, and a movable preaching platform was built to allow the pastor to move closer to the congregation during services while still accommodating center-aisle weddings and funerals. A new baptistry with integrated heating and drainage, a 75-foot steeple with integrated lighting, a wrap-around balcony, a new pastor’s study, family waiting rooms, and a bridal room round out the program. Full audio, video, and lighting systems were installed, including an elevated sound booth and a remote AVL control room.
The family life center presented a different set of structural demands. The three-story building was constructed on a limited site with wraparound parking, requiring massive concrete retaining walls and foundations. The high school gymnasium was positioned at the middle level with a basement below, necessitating heavy structural steel framing to achieve the clear-span spaces required beneath it. The gymnasium features a floating white maple floor and clerestory windows for natural daylighting. Education spaces, offices, gathering areas, and a café complete the building’s program, with all site work, parking, fire sprinkler, and fire alarm systems coordinated and tied into existing campus infrastructure.
“While the integrity of the structure is certainly noteworthy, their labor to make the entire facility aesthetically beautiful was so appreciated by me. The quality of the workmanship is breathtaking and they made the entire experience both enjoyable and rewarding.”