VAIL CHRISTIAN CHURCH

VAIL CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Ed Marley
Project Principal

Tim Smith
Project Architect
Project Manager

This project centers on a courtyard with a campus spreading around the central exterior space. This is the first phase of Four master planned for growth; it includes a multipurpose building that will be used as the interim sanctuary and a classroom building for children’s Sunday School. The courtyard supports fellowship between multiple services, access to each space and ties the campus together. The courtyard also contains the baptistery that has a removable cover doubling as a platform for outdoor weddings and other celebrations. The multipurpose building is designed for flexibility but optimized acoustically to support the full platform and video presentations as well as a wide range of functions both near and long term. The lighting system is controlled from the sound booth to easily adapt to the various uses, from seminars to video presentations. The separate classrooms also rely heavily on media and therefore have controlled fenestration balancing daylighting and limiting glare for the children’s rooms.  Large exterior overhangs help to control light and provide comfortable gathering spaces in front of each room. The classrooms are grouped in pairs with an operable wall between each to maximize flexibility in the children’s programs.  A natural wash that is lined with native vegetation divides the site and a bridge joins the parking lot to the courtyard through a series of ramadas. Rock gabions edge the wash protecting the structures and blending with the larger site.

Future phases of the master plan include a 700 seat worship center with terraced seating, additional classrooms and an administrative office building and expanded parking.