flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture incorporates Biblical parable into church design

Religious Facilities

Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture incorporates Biblical parable into church design

The ellipse-shaped building has plenty of gathering spots and outdoor views.


By Mike Chamernik, Associate Editor | March 24, 2016
Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture incorporates Biblical parable into church design

Rendering courtesy Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture. Click here to enlarge.

The mustard seed is such an appropriate parable that it was told three times in the Bible. As the story goes, the small, oblong seed grew into a large tree that attracted and housed a plethora of birds.

Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG) drew inspiration from that story to design a new church in Glenview, Ill. The 72,000-sf Willow Creek North Shore is an ellipse-shaped building with a 1,200-seat auditorium, cafe, administrative offices, adult ministry spaces, educational classrooms, and other gathering points. Two spacious main entrances are connected to lobbies and circulation paths.

“What was most important in the conceptual design of this building was to create a welcoming feeling and a diagram that was clear and understandable for both the first-time visitor as well as those who attend on a regular basis,” AS+GG Design Partner Adrian Smith said in a statement. “The gentle curve of the circulation paths allow occupants to flow through the space, while enjoying views of the outside.”

The building is elevated 5-8 feet from its original grade, which creates a plateau with sights of the retention pond and the surrounding community.

Floor-to-ceiling windows will be installed to draw in natural light and face toward two landscaped courtyards, which can hold weddings, funerals, and other events.

Construction began in June 2015, and the church is expected to open in the fall of this year.

Along with AS+GG, Architecture, the project team was comprised of Glenn H. Johnson Construction Co. (contractor), Forefront Structural Engineers (structural engineering), and Heager Engineering (civil engineering).

 

Photo: Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture. Click photo to enlarge.

Photo: Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture. Click photo to enlarge.

Related Stories

| Oct 28, 2013

Urban growth doesn’t have to destroy nature—it can work with it

Our collective desire to live in cities has never been stronger. According to the World Health Organization, 60% of the world’s population will live in a city by 2030. As urban populations swell, what people demand from their cities is evolving.

| Oct 23, 2013

Manhattan's landmark Marble Collegiate Church modernized

Helpern Architects, Structure Tone led the Building Team in a multi-phase project. 

| Oct 18, 2013

Researchers discover tension-fusing properties of metal

When a group of MIT researchers recently discovered that stress can cause metal alloy to fuse rather than break apart, they assumed it must be a mistake. It wasn't. The surprising finding could lead to self-healing materials that repair early damage before it has a chance to spread. 

| Oct 4, 2013

Nifty video shows planned development of La Sagrada Familia basilica

After 144 years, construction on Gaudi's iconic Barcelona edifice is picking up speed, with a projected end date of 2026. 

| Sep 19, 2013

What we can learn from the world’s greenest buildings

Renowned green building author, Jerry Yudelson, offers five valuable lessons for designers, contractors, and building owners, based on a study of 55 high-performance projects from around the world.

| Sep 19, 2013

6 emerging energy-management glazing technologies

Phase-change materials, electrochromic glass, and building-integrated PVs are among the breakthrough glazing technologies that are taking energy performance to a new level. 

| Sep 19, 2013

Roof renovation tips: Making the choice between overlayment and tear-off

When embarking upon a roofing renovation project, one of the first decisions for the Building Team is whether to tear off and replace the existing roof or to overlay the new roof right on top of the old one. Roofing experts offer guidance on making this assessment.

| Sep 11, 2013

BUILDINGChicago eShow Daily – Day 3 coverage

Day 3 coverage of the BUILDINGChicago/Greening the Heartland conference and expo, taking place this week at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza.

| Sep 10, 2013

BUILDINGChicago eShow Daily – Day 2 coverage

The BD+C editorial team brings you this real-time coverage of day 2 of the BUILDINGChicago/Greening the Heartland conference and expo taking place this week at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza.

| Aug 26, 2013

What you missed last week: Architecture billings up again; record year for hotel renovations; nation's most expensive real estate markets

BD+C's roundup of the top construction market news for the week of August 18 includes the latest architecture billings index from AIA and a BOMA study on the nation's most and least expensive commercial real estate markets. 

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category


Giants 400

Top 40 Religious Facility Construction Firms for 2023

Crossland Construction, Haskell, Big-D Construction, Whiting-Turner, and JE Dunn Construction top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest religious facility general contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report.



halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021