Bethany Bible Church Lobby + Sanctuary Renovation
Cultural
Architecture + Interiors
5,157 sf (lobby) | 22,876 sf (sanctuary)
Phoenix, Arizona
The interior renovation of a 1989 narthex/lobby creates a new ‘threshold’ experience for members and visitors. A ‘connections’ center welcomes people from all directions, coming or departing. Warm ash casework creates a luminous attraction and forms a backdrop to the Living Room gathering space, flanked by a timber screen wall. Floating ‘cloud’ ceilings hover below a night-sky roof—with warm lighting effects. The space is framed by dark ash portal doors and gallery walls for rotating art exhibits. The lobby has given new interactive vitality and has hosted events including music recitals.
Re-visioning the worship sanctuary, Bethany Bible Church sought a reverent, sacred space—with relevance including flexibility of music and media. Dark wood screens and pews (evoking Gothic), glowing chandeliers, and stained glass windows recount the ‘narrative arc’ of the faith. The existing fan-shape seating plan is gathered in a closer circle for a sense of belonging; the chancel/stage is brought forward, at reduced height for better connection to the congregation; an overhead ‘proscenium’ arch spans the space and conceals equipment and lighting. The result is a sense of lightness and simplicity.
