SANCTUARY DESIGN GROUP
Participants: Bill Jenkins, Kay Alewine, John Senkar, Cindy Cook,
Doug Burdett, Jamie Hester, Carolyn Sturgeon
Premise: The input of other groups will impact our discussion.
Items considered:
Seating Capacity? (Current= 480 > 385 Comfortable Capacity @ 80%)
(3 Services at 385 = 1,152 avg. attend.)
The models call for us to go with 800
800 was decided on with the stipulation of creating growth,
or bonus, space with balcony and wings of sanctuary for expansion.
Our present attendance of 380 to 400 in two services could grow to 500 and still be dwarfed in an 800 seat sanctuary.
One Worship Space vs. Two Worship Spaces?
Two worship spaces were decided with one being a 100 seat Heritage Chapel for smaller services.
Should the Mosaic service grow beyond the chapel it would be moved into the sanctuary.
Chancel Area:
(Based on one area for Traditional, Contemporary
and Emerging Worship)
Central Pulpit vs. Divided Chancel?
Central Pulpit to bring the congregation in closer to the speakers.
Placement of Altar (permanent):
On floor level in front of pulpit with wide space for serving the sacrament.
Movable chancel furniture: All chancel furnishings to be portable except for Altar, this includes the altar railings.
Placement of Organ and Piano:
If one is movable placement may be determined by usage.
Central Choir loft vs. Offset: Central with space for 100 voices.
Bell Choir Loft: to be above Choir loft with 2 levels for compactness.
Sacristy: to be off the chancel area.
Concert Capability?
We decided that we want the sanctuary to be concert compatible.
Sturdy wood floors in chancel area.
10’ exit doors to accommodate staging equipment.
Doors should be aesthetically compatible with décor of chancel
and sanctuary.
Question: How much seating is needed for concert capability?
Design of Sanctuary: Center aisle with center double door entrance.
Design of seating: Four symmetric seating sections.
Split extra long pews with mini-aisles
Wheelchair and handicap Seating: have 10 to 12 shortened pews scattered throughout the sanctuary for wheel chair access out of the aisle.
(Hearing impaired being addressed by A/V Team)
Areas adjacent: A/V room: off to one side of center entrance
(15’ deep X 20’ wide)
Usher Room: next to A/V room with double door entrance between.
(15’ deep X 20’ wide)
Special Needs Celebration Room: Off to opposite side of center entrance with double door entrance between it and Cry Room. (15’ deep X 20’ wide)
Cry Room: off to the side of Celebration Room
(15’ deep X 20’ wide)
These measurements create a span of 104’ across the back of the sanctuary.
Two other double door entrances should be on either side of the sanctuary
near the chancel area.
Outside these doors would be a wide hallway with glass windows for natural light that allows access to the front of sanctuary and back of chancel area.
Sanctuary should be oriented north to south in the center of the property to buffer traffic noise on League City Parkway.
Main Entrance: desire that someone coming into the building would be able to tell where the entrance was and where to go once inside. This is more than a matter of signage but of architectural design.
Main entrance should make a statement about the church.
Lighting: It is important that lighting be easily serviced and that it be economical. If lift is needed to change lights the pews should be arranged so that lights could be accessed from the floor.
Orchestra: Space for an orchestra should be opposite the Praise Band.
Aesthetics of Chancel Area: A design was suggested for the chancel area and a picture was taken. The design included a movable modesty rail that would define the music areas.
Stain Glass: It was suggested that any stain glass windows would be back lit as the walls of the sanctuary would be all interior walls.
The idea is that heating and cooling would be more efficient if the space was not impacted by outside conditions.
Items desired to be taken to new building:
Panels on Communion Rail
Altar
Stain Glass Windows
Cross
Memorial Plaque
Cornerstone