Innovative church design in small town mid-America

Abstract

Church design plays a major role in the ability of a congregation to grow and thrive within a community. The overall design sets a tone for the way a congregation will function and be able to reach out to new people. If a church is lacking in appeal from a design standpoint, this can have a negative effect on the ability of the church to bring in new members. Designing a space that promotes itself while keeping with its rural roots creates another challenge in terms of design. Through discussion, observation, and a literature review on church design and aspects, I analyze the needs of Colfax Christian Church and utilize this information for the design of a new "main" building for the church. The design process is demonstrated through a design program and construction documents and renderings of the final design for Colfax Christian Church in Colfax, Indiana.