St. Stephen's Episcopal Church
Belvedere, Calif.
Goring and Straja Architects

New parish hall better relates to church and neighbors

© David Wakely

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St. Stephen's Episcopal Church is a poured-in-place concrete basilica built in 1955. A stuccoed wood-frame parish hall, constructed later, related poorly to the church as well as the surrounding residential neighborhood. Additionally, the newer hall failed to provide sufficient space for the evolving needs of the church's staff and educational programs. The congregation sought a more inviting structure that would make better use of a shared courtyard between the two buildings, and blend into the scale of the surrounding neighborhood.

The architects faced the challenge of designing a more usable parish hall on the same footprint as the original one, while reducing the structure's apparent mass. After working closely with church and community groups, they designed a space that brings all staff areas together in a new upper floor, and opens up to a landscaped courtyard and the existing church. The facility also includes classrooms, a commercial kitchen, meeting rooms for religious education and adult groups, and a more organized and generous entry.

A large window wall faces the courtyard and sanctuary, inviting parishioners with views of the hall's warm wood finishes and a fireplace within. The architects chose wood because it creates a warm and dynamic contrast to the concrete sanctuary. Similarly, the new hall's exterior wood siding and exposed timber and steel structural system pose a deferential, playful contrast to the sanctuary's solid, somber character. To better relate to the neighborhood, the new parish hall's roof line slopes toward the street.

The construction project also included site work, as well as the addition of a new canopy, glazed mahogany doors, side lights, and interior finishes in the original sanctuary's narthex. Parishioners sought these changes to make the sanctuary appear more welcoming, believing that the church's rigorous forms and bold material palette needed to be softened

Formal name of Project:
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church

Location:
Belvedere, Calif.

Gross square footage:
New Parish Hall, 12,500 sq. ft.; Updates to existing sanctuary, 4,100 sq. ft.

Total construction cost:
$3.2 million

Owner:
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church

Architect:
Goring and Straja Architects
5885 Hollis Street
Emeryville, CA 94608
www.gasarchitects.com