Location:

Columbia, Tennessee

Status: 

Completed Fall 2012

Size:

13,900 SF

Client:

South Gate Church of Christ 

Shop Team:

James Kennon
Richard Volger
Ramendeep Singh
John Calhoun
Matthew Edwards

Project Collaborators:

General Contractor:
DF CHase
Structural Engineer:
EMC Structural Engineers
MPE Engineering:
Envision Advantage Engineers
Civil Engineer:
Barge Cauthen & Associates
Landscape Architect:
Hodgson & Douglas          Acoustic Consultant:
Roland, Woolworth + Assoc.

Awards:

AIA Tennessee Design Awards, Merit Award 2015

The congregation had acquired the property 2002 in anticipation of building a new campus to be closer to the homes of their current and growing membership. The congregation is a mix of people whose livelihood comes from both local agricultural and town oriented vocations.  They have worked diligently and saved prudently to collect the funds to build this new home for their church family.

The image of the ‘little white church’ seemed a fitting imagery - emphasizing form and simple detailing.  Traditional articulation was translated using modern materials such as a standing seam metal roof, white vertical metal siding, a low brick foundation and white aluminum windows. These materials mimicked the traditional materials but brought economics and durability to the current church.

The planning committee challenged us that the design accommodate the potential to be built in phases if needed to remain within their economic constraints. This directed the development of the program and design into three distinct volumes: auditorium with administrative offices, educational spaces, and fellowship hall.  These three forms are then connected by a central corridor which becomes the spine of church activities. The project’s design efficiencies allowed them to build the entire campus and not have to divide the project. Pushing the parking to the rear of the building away from the roadway allows the church to seem to be situated in a field since no cars are visible from the road.