This project involved an urban parish that wanted to transform their worship space from its original, traditional floor plan to one that brought the community together in a more contemporary manner. The new arrangement organizes antiphonal seating around the main axis. The design of the space emphasizes religious life in community by arranging key symbols along this straight-line axis:
• font…initiation into community
• ambo…liturgy of the word
• altar…liturgy of the eucharist
Seating is arranged around this axis. Individual chairs were selected instead of benches to offer greater flexibility.
The worship space is entered through a gathering space that has been added to what was once the exterior front facade of the original church. This gathering area serves as a place for socializing before and after liturgies. A kitchen and serving area open onto the gathering space. This renovation project was Phase Two of a Master Plan developed by this team in 1995.