Case+Abst Architects - Selected Projects - Religious


First Congregational Church SHCP Barulich Chapel St. Hilary Church Renovation St. Hilary Parish Center October 22, 2006 October 22, 2006 September 8, 2006 September 8, 2006 June 22, 2006		FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH United Church of Christ Polk and Bush Streets San Francisco, California

		After selling their Union Square building four years ago, the First Congregational Church of San Francisco moved to temporary quarters to plan its future. In 2004, church members asked C+A to design an inspirational church to revitalize their mission and to grow their membership. C+A looked at the new church site and contemplated the issues that come with a busy intersection and active street life. The solution was to elevate the worship spaces - the sanctuary and two reflective gardens - to the second floor. A processional stair was created to lead parishioners up "a path to the sky" and into the sanctuary. The sanctuary roof was elevated above the sanctuary by a continuous ring of clerestory windows and crossed by slivered skylights, to be illuminated at night. Completed in 2008, the ground level houses a Fellowship Hall with caterer's kitchen, a small chapel, administrative offices, and access to the elevator, basement, and support spaces. The street level houses social services and administrative spaces. The masonry panels and metal roof are a handsome addition to the streetscape.