BURBANK, Calif. (June 8, 2011) – We were honored recently to be interviewed for client First Presbyterian Church of Burbank’s “His Story, Our Time, Your Moment” renovation inspiration campaign. Church master planning and architecture are key to increasing outreach through better utilization of the entire campus. Where Burbank Presbyterian is only using 10 percent of its space today, our church redesign will provide them with a more cohesive campus. Watch the video here: First Pres Burbank “His Story, Our Time, Your Moment” Renovation Inspiration 2011

SOLANA BEACH, Calif. (April 16, 2011) – An expanded new outdoor play area is one of the highlights of an updated preschool design at the Solana Beach Presbyterian Church.

Part of a master plan for the church designed by domusstudio architecture, founded in 1986 as Dominy + Associates Architects, the preschool will move from its current location to the entire lower floor of the two-story Lomas Santa Fe Executive Plaza office building.

The preschool’s new playground will wrap around three sides of the classroom wing and showcase a natural play environment. Drawings show grassy mounds and meandering pathways that foster imaginative play for preschool-aged children.

Designed by domusstudio in conjunction with M. W. Peltz & Associates Landscape Architects, the outdoor area also will include a castle-like structure with a bridge and a slide.

Drought-tolerant native plants incorporated into the play area will utilize reclaimed water.

In addition to its expanded playground, the new preschool will accommodate as many as 40 more 3- to 5-year-olds with two additional classrooms.

From the exterior, the building will look much the same, except for the addition of a new elevator near the new preschool entrance. The proposed elevator would improve access within the building and throughout the property. In addition, the elevator tower features colorful playground-like treatments designed by domusstudio architecture.

The new preschool design also incorporates a safe new drop-off traffic pattern that allows parents and caregivers to park and access entry to the preschool without having to cross a parking lot or walk between cars.

Pending conditional use permit approval from the City of Solana Beach and the Coastal Commission, tenant improvements on the building could begin as soon as fall 2011 and be completed in early 2012.

LA CANADA, Calif.  (March 23, 2011) – What do you do when you need to have a venue for contemporary worship? Your present place of worship is a very traditional but visually attractive space that everyone loves, and doesn’t want to spoil with screens and theater lights.

Adding a separate all-new contemporary worship space may be the logical answer. At La Canada Presbyterian, the result is an innovative Worship Arts Center. This fresh, flexible venue has options for various stage and seating configurations and is totally “tech-ed” out for a wide variety of media and performances. As a bonus, new restrooms and a new gallery/lobby are usable by the traditional worshippers as well, linking the community of worshipers and styles.

Everyone is happy and the new space has been full from Sunday one.

What’s your challenge?

CARLSBAD (Feb. 10, 2011) – Steel framing is now under way and the topping slab has been poured for a new two-story Parish Center at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in Carlsbad. Designed by church architecture specialists domusstudio architecture, the 18,443-square-foot building is expected to be completed in July.

Since groundbreaking in June, site work has been ongoing, including excavation and retaining wall construction. The project continues on schedule with framing of interior walls and exterior walls expected to start in the next few weeks. Refining and finalizing interior design finishes also continues.

CW Driver is the general contractor and the project is managed by Kruse Development Services, Inc. on behalf of the Diocese of San Diego. Wayne Holtan, AIA, is the partner in charge of the project designed by domusstudio architecture.

Designed in a contemporary mission style to complement the domusstudio-designed Sanctuary, the two-story Parish Center features similar window shapes and sizes, colonnades, roof design and trellis work. The new building is located just north of the Sanctuary’s existing courtyard and will include a 735-square-foot recreation room for the church’s youth group. The lower level will have a conference room, five classroom/meeting rooms, a catering lounge, entry foyer and elevator access to the second floor.

The second story of St. Elizabeth Seton’s Parish Center will include: a large foyer with lounge seating area and fireplace for pre-function activities, as well as a 4,630-square-foot social hall.

With high volume wood beamed ceilings, the social hall will have the flexibility to serve as a conference facility featuring dual large format presentation screens and advanced audio-visual features, or the ability to transform into a social event setting with dance floor, stage and dinner seating for over 300. Overlooking the campus outdoor plaza, the social hall is served by a commercial grade kitchen and buffet serving area and has ready access to a covered patio for overflow seating and gatherings.

The Sanctuary designed by domusstudio architecture earned three Orchids and the prestigious Grand Orchid award from the San Diego Architectural Foundation in 1997 and a citation from the San Diego chapter of the American Institute of Architects that same year.

CARLSBAD (June 16, 2010) — The next phase in the St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church master plan gets under way June 27 with a groundbreaking celebration for a new Parish Center.

The new Parish Center will accommodate the church’s growing youth population, which has expanded two and a half times since 1994. By 2011 they expect to have 1,000 students in sacred education from kindergarten through 12^th grade.

“The new Parish Hall will double the amount of available space for events and sacred education classes at the church, meeting their growing needs and allowing the entire church community to gather more comfortably,” said Wayne Holtan, AIA, principal at domusstudio architecture. “Like many of our liturgical projects, the new Parish Center for St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church is designed to be multi-purpose, to allow the members to maximize the spaces.”

Designed as part of a master plan by domusstudio architecture, founded in 1986 as Dominy + Associates Architects, the approximately $8 million Parish Center is located on five acres at Alga and El Fuerte roads in Carlsbad. Completion of the 18,443-square-foot building is planned for July 2011.

Designed in a contemporary mission style to complement the Sanctuary, the two-story Parish Center will include a 735-square-foot recreation room for the church’s youth group. The lower level will have a conference room, five classroom/meeting rooms, a catering lounge, entry foyer and elevator access to the second floor.

The second story will include: a large foyer with lounge seating area and fireplace for pre-function activities, as well as a 4,630-square-foot social hall. With high volume wood beamed ceilings, the social hall will have the flexibility to serve as a conference facility or to transform into a social event setting with dance floor, stage and dinner seating for more than 300.

“We are excited to see another phase of St. Elizabeth Seton’s master plan coming together,” said Holtan. domusstudio architecture’s 18-year relationship with the Carlsbad church includes design of the church’s Sanctuary. Completed in 1994, the Sanctuary earned three Orchids and the prestigious Grand Orchid award from the San Diego Architectural Foundation in 1997 and received a citation from the San Diego chapter of the American Institute of Architects that same year.

SAN DIEGO  (Feb. 25, 2010) – San Carlos United Methodist Church near San Diego recently celebrated a groundbreaking for its new youth/education building. Construction started Feb. 15, and completion is expected in late June.

Designed by leading church architects domusstudio architecture, the one-story youth/education building represents Phase 1A of an approved multi-phase master plan for the San Diego area church. The next phase is an addition to the structure that will replace the church’s existing preschool building. As the church and its ministry and services grow, additional aspects of the master plan will be developed.

“Groundbreaking is a ceremonial but important step for church members, showing that all their years of planning are coming to fruition as construction actually begins,” says Wayne Holtan, a principal at domusstudio architecture. The San Diego-based architecture firm specializes in church-related building projects, including more than 20 currently in process.

“This building is an exciting new beginning that will serve youth today as well as future generations of the church and community,” Holtan adds.

Read more at Worship Facilities website: http://www.worshipfacilities.com/go.php/editorial/10846