Running the Survey 

The First Mennonite Brethren Church had been meeting in a multipurpose room of the church in this location for more than 20 years, and had far outgrown the facility in the last few years. The congregation voted to add a new worship center and support areas, and remodel portions of the existing facility. As the design meetings began, so did the questions. Do we have a flat or sloped floor? How big do we build? Where do we add on? How much of the old do we bring into the new? And on and on. Our early involvement with cost models, design suggestions and scheduling helped the design team create a concept that found the sweet spot, and answered the questions.  

Laying the Foundation

The architects had the inspired idea of building on to the front of the church and bringing the presence out to 21^st Street. The existing site was relatively flat, and showed the effects of standing water that had been a constant battle over the years. Because of the grading issues, we suggested elevating the building. This answered a myriad of old and new challenges. Water now drains away from the building. Inside, the floor is a combination of flat and sloped, allowing the congregation to make the choice. Hutton’s own craftsmen treated the worship center walls with an applied oak that helps provide just the right amount of acoustical reverberation and adds to the very reverential feel. We were sensitive to the desire to keep the old with the new. There was a simple cross in a prayer garden that had been with the building through the years.

The Finishing Touches

We carefully removed the simple prayer garden cross and protected it during construction. In the final weeks, it was suggested that this be cleaned and refinished by an artistic member of the congregation, and it now hangs at the entry to the worship center in nearly the same location where it had stood before. The existing nursery, library and fellowship areas were remodeled, providing a unique experience and areas for fellowship and interaction.