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Architects: 360 Architecture
- Year: 2009
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Photographs:360 Architecture
Text description provided by the architects. 360 Architecture accepted a big challenge when they took on a project transforming a big box store for Heartland Community Church. The church sought a nontraditional worship space, and 360 Architecture revamped the former furniture store into a space representative of the contemporary church and its mission.
Heartland Community Church is located in the suburbs of Kansas City, Missouri and describes itself as the “church for the unchurched.” They sought a building to represent their church’s personality with “simplicity, transparency, and environmental and fiscal stewardship.” 360 Architecture dramatically rehabilitated a big box store to match their needs.
360 Architecture created new interiors, and cut open the building to make it work as an enjoyable church and community center. A lightbox was added to the roof, bringing in 450 square feet of natural light, and an entryway was created by receding it 40 feet into the building. The entryway creates a opportunity for new outdoor friendly program and a special approach to the Heartland Community Church.
A garden, atrium, and coffee and bookstore area inhabit the entry space, and the rest of the building contains classrooms, a children’s play area, informal gathering spaces. The building’s exterior was also adjusted to agree with its new community. The existing finish was sandblasted to soften it, and the over 20,000 feet of surrounding pavement became green space.
Along with eliminating so much paved surface, Heartland Community Church showed a commitment to sustainability by choosing low-impact landscaping and plumbing fixtures. 360 Architecture also reused steel, ceiling tiles, and doors from the building’s previous incarnation to be efficient and sustainable by using existing materials along with an existing building.
The big box structure has been totally revitalized by 360 Architecture for Heartland Community Church. It now provides an appealing, comfortable space for its community to worship. The redesign successfully embodies the progressive values of the church through simplicity, and sustainability.
