The design objective was to expand a 1950 church to meet the 1995 requirements of eleven classrooms, dining/fellowship hall, kitchen, administrative area, choir practice room, nursery, narthex/overflow and a sanctuary that would seat 250 people. Accessibility concerns meant adding an elevator to serve all levels and a drop-off area for the new sanctuary, as well as changing the existing architectural barriers so that the entire facility could be used by all.

The structure is located in a residential neighborhood on a highly visible site. The cross and tower can be viewed from the downtown area. A large, traditional gable marks the worship space, while lower roof lines wrap the narthex to reduce the scale to residential proportions.

In addition to the program requirements, the congregation had design concerns associated with the existing church. They are very proud of their church and desired an addition that would complement, not compete with, the original structure. It did not take long to understand that the existing sanctuary was a very difficult space to expand. The existing worship space was converted into the new fellowship hall, the kitchen relocated from the basement to the upper level, and the new sanctuary built on the vacant lot to the north.

One of the desires of the congregation during the design process was to preserve the sense of closeness within the sanctuary. They asked if the new design could maintain or decrease the distance between the back row of pews and the altar. The sanctuary was arranged in a fan shaped plan to enhance the sense of community, family and friendship within the church. A large stained glass window in the focal point within the space. A large amount of natural light fills the sanctuary with borrowed light from the new narthex and north facing windows. The palette of materials and colors provides a durable and hospitable environment for worship and fellowship.