Trinity Lutheran Church
St. Peter, MN | Government + Cultural
Overview
Trinity Lutheran Church has a vibrant and growing ministry. With a historic building and a prominent role in the neighborhood, this congregation aimed to expand at their existing location. Formulating preliminary planning documents from programming through construction documents helped this congregation move forward.
Opportunity
Providing facilitation services that included helping with the programming process; coordinating user group meetings to determine their needs; and staying in close contact with the building committee and congregation helped to bring this project to fruition. Assistance with congregational materials for fundraising proved to be very successful. This complete building renovation included all building systems as well as the addition of a large multi-purpose room, new office spaces and classrooms.
Solution
Design challenges for the project included creating a feasible phasing plan, updating and integrating the new addition with existing architecture, mechanical, electrical, and structural systems, and providing a long term plan for adequate parking. Designers and cost estimators were able to recognize value engineering opportunities to maintain the project budget.
One priority was to blend the addition of an 8,500 square foot multi-purpose room in a way that complemented the existing architecture. Providing mechanical systems to areas of the church that were never designed to have them took full coordination of all in house disciplines. Another objective of the project was to bring the facility up to meet current standards of accessibility even with several different levels within the existing building.
Sustainable components incorporated into the updated facility included underground water retention, reuse of reclaimed materials, daylighting strategies, and the use of high efficiency mechanical systems to keep operating costs at a minimum. This project has ensured the congregation is able to remain a strong visual, physical, and spiritual presence in the community for decades to come.