St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Renovation in Washington by atelierjones

Article source:  atelierjones

The project is a renovation of and design of a new entry addition to an iconic mid-century Northwest Modernist church, designed by Steinhart/Theriault in 1962. The worn 50 year old structure required a new liturgical space for gatherings around a new full-immersion baptismal artist-designed font, as well as accessibility, structural and energy upgrades. Careful choices about stripping away the years of accumulated renovations that had marred the powerful space were required.

Image Courtesy © Lara Swimmer 

• Architects: atelierjones
• Project: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Renovation
• Location: Seattle, Washington, USA
• Photography: Lara Swimmer
• Design Team: Susan Jones, Brian Gerich, Kristin Saunders, Greg Bishop, Audrey van Horne, Roma Shah
• Building Committee: Melissa Skelton, Adam Conley, Denise Crawford, Ellen Hill, John Hill, Ralph Karskadden, d, Catherine Reid, Daryl Schlick, Mark Taylor
• Owner’S Representative: Larry Brouse
• Original 1962 Architect: Robert Theirault, AIA, d.
• Lighting Design: Carol DePelecyn studio
• Civil Engineers: Laurie Pfarr, Steve Hatzenbueler
• Structural Engineers: Jim Harriott, Harriott, Valentine Engineers
• General Contractor: Loch Anderson, John Hall, Paul Wasell, Foushee Contractors
• Storefront Installation: Bill Joy
• Software used: AutoCAD

Image Courtesy © Lara Swimmer

A new transparent entry out to the very urban, gritty commercial street creates a new public oriented space for gatherings around the new font. Geometries from the dramatic roof are subtly used in the new addition to create a relationship to the existing structure, without imitating its iconic drama.

Image Courtesy © Lara Swimmer

A new shingled art glass wall evoking detailing of the powerful copper shingles of the exterior replaces the existing cheap, 1960’s plastic film coated-single pane glass. The project was initiated and completed during the recent economic downturn, with extreme energy from the congregation, on budget at $85/sf.

Image Courtesy © Lara Swimmer

Inside, new cast, resin-tinted art glass held by custom extruded aluminum clips frames new insulated glass units on the East and West walls replacing the visual clash and energy inefficiency of the existing glass. The nave culminates in a newly finished altar platform with a new artist-designed altar. The 60’ high wall behind the altar was treated with an architect-designed artistic paint that illumines the entire church. New lighting illuminates the dramatic mid-century structure bringing cohesive design through detailing and materials to the space.

Image Courtesy © Lara Swimmer

Image Courtesy © Lara Swimmer

Image Courtesy © Lara Swimmer

Image Courtesy © Lara Swimmer

Image Courtesy © Lara Swimmer

Image Courtesy © Lara Swimmer

Image Courtesy © Lara Swimmer

Image Courtesy © Lara Swimmer

Image Courtesy © Lara Swimmer

Image Courtesy © Lara Swimmer

Image Courtesy © Lara Swimmer

Image Courtesy © Lara Swimmer

Image Courtesy © Lara Swimmer

Tags: USA, Washington

Categories: Autocad, Church

This entry was posted on Saturday, April 20th, 2013 at 2:52 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.