Calvary Baptist Church

Calvary Baptist Church

Location: Little Rock, Arkansas

Challenge: Replace an aging, existing sanctuary on a tight, urban site with a new, larger worship center. The congregation’s wish was for a more traditional architectural style with accessibility, generous support spaces and new technology.

Performance: Through an extensive dialogue with the congregation and the various committees, a program was developed addressing needs and creating consensus about what the facility should be. Designing the church to fit the grades meant rotating the plan so each level had a grade level entrance and the main entry point is mid-block away from the busy street intersections.

Description: The new facility incorporates traditional architecture in an innovative plan that centers on a 600+ seat sanctuary with a balcony, a relocated organ, a fellowship space for 100+, choir rehearsal area, bride and groom spaces, and a generous welcome center area. The oak-paneled wainscoting, brick-and-cast-stone exterior and exposed wood trusses add a warmth and friendly presence to the church. The 18,000 square foot addition, with its impressive steeple, has become an important touchstone for the members of the church and the neighborhood.