Conversion of an Office Building Creates New Home for Church Plant

03/14/2014 | Ziegler Cooper

Ziegler Cooper and Brookstone Construction are pleased to announce the recent completion of a renovation and conversion of a 3.5 acre, 26,000 s.f. office building into Christ Community Church’s new church home. A church plant of 200-300 people, the congregation had previously been meeting in a hotel, and had purchased the commercial property in West Houston with the hopes to one day renovate it into their church home.

Always up for a challenge, the design team incorporated creative solutions to ensure that the one story space did not feel cramped and stuffy. By taking out the ceilings in the fellowship hall and worship center, painting the structure black and keeping the lights as high as possible, the design team created a sense of vertical space. The incorporation of glass continues the open feel with 28’-0” of full glass sliding doors off the entry/fellowship hall. These glass doors allow for multi-purpose use by retracting inside a pocket wall, expanding the room for large events.

Architectural elements, such as ceiling furr downs are painted a dusty green and add a pop of color to the overall neutral pallet. A reclaimed wood wall serves as a feature element in the lobby and main worship area. The chairs in the 500-seat worship center allow for flexibility and can be stored backstage, allowing the worship center to be utilized in a variety of ways. Two large flat-screen TVs flank the stage, allowing for optimal viewing and message display during services.

A kitchen was designed adjacent to the sanctuary for food preparation and coffee service. Thirteen classrooms occupy the northwest wing of the building and provide education spaces for children and adults. Four of the rooms are specifically designed for early childhood care.

Additional administrative offices and storage areas are located on the northwest wing as well. The church site was designed around a landscaped courtyard, with green areas for a playground and outdoor seating. Future expansion plans include the renovation of a building on the northwest corner of the property, which will become a Student Ministry and Youth building.
“It’s always exciting to see a project like this go from start to finish. Christ Community Church is a wonderful group of people and we are thrilled that we can be instrumental in allowing their congregation to grow,” says Senior Principal, Paul Lodholz, AIA, LEED AP.

About Ziegler Cooper
Founded in 1977, Ziegler Cooper designs buildings that are inspirational, highly functional and sustainable, resulting in extremely valuable assets for their owners. Our design solutions reflect a fresh approach that respects the context, reinterprets historical tradition and transcends immediate circumstances to connect with the client’s vision. We pursue innovation with an entrepreneurial spirit, exploring the influences of a building — the uniqueness of the site, its setting and current/future occupants, visitors and patrons. A true expression of our firm’s creativity, our space is an open and collaborative studio environment that inspires creativity and collaboration. We believe inspirational architecture has the power to uplift the human spirit and provides a constant vision of excellence. For information about Ziegler Cooper, visit www.zieglercooper.com