Interfaith Design

 View Only

Park Plaza Synagogue
Church of Luoyan

Quick Links

Who we are

The AIA Interfaith Design (ID) Knowledge Community encourages and supports excellence in the design of worship spaces and their accoutrements. Interfaith Design is an association of professionals whose primary interest is religious facilities in a broad array of traditions. We value an interfaith forum for the exchange of ideas relating to religion, art, and architecture. Join us!

Case Study: St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church, Ankeny, IA

By Michael L. Janaskie AIA posted 03-24-2020 09:12 AM

  

This is certainly the year where we as a nation think about the important state of Iowa.  We are now about a month past the Iowa caucuses and there are likely a variety of opinions on the results and the process of determining delegates.  However, when it comes to this Iowa project, there is truly a unified chorus of support for this 2019 Faith and Form award winner, St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church, the feature focus for our March Blog. 


Directly in the heart of Iowa north of Des Moines, Neumann Monson Architects (MNA) designed this 31,805 SF facility which was completed in 2015 by Hansen Company, Inc.   The firm states the design is an ‘assemblage of relatively simple, pragmatic forms. Rooted in agrarian building traditions of the Midwest, these forms are executed in native limestone and weathering steel.’1  A combination of these elements are strongly expressed in the parti while maintaining a careful balance of the materials.


As is often conventional for Catholic work, the firm worked with a liturgical consultant, BVH Architecture to partner with the for the design.  MNA states ‘the building honors Catholic traditions through the use of light, procession, form, and materiality. In the sanctuary native limestone walls embrace the congregation while clerestory windows allow filtered natural daylight to fill the sacred space. The exposed structural frame and gaps in the stone flanking walls deliver cadence and repetition. A wood-louvered gothic-arch window draws attention to the east and acknowledges the importance of that orientation in Catholic tradition.’1   The relationship of solid-void, natural light and simple references to traditional elements make for a respectful expression that highlights both the church building type and the impact good architecture can have on a community.



The awards jury made a great decision to select this project to receive this distinguished recognition.  This project adds to the more recent examples we are seeing that take a new look at church architecture.  The design is a refreshing pivot from what traditional expressions have typically produced.  In a new world of sustainability, an appeal to the younger demographic, millennial viewpoints and elevated design expectations this project more than hits that mark. 


The honest material expression of the interior of the sanctuary is filled with natural light creating an inviting environment for this community of faith and becomes a buttress for the church mantra of ‘We Worship, We Teach, We Care’.  The photographs of the project taken by Cameron Campbell, Integrated Studio capture the unique character of the design both inside and out.  Take time to pause over a photo or two to appreciate this special award winning project. It is my hope that you will allow this unique work to inspire new creativity as you have the opportunity to engage in a future faith-based project. 


1Archdaily.com - source credit for firm quotes.
Cameron Campbell, Integrated Studio- all photos included


2 comments
21 views

Comments

James E. Stafford
03-26-2020 09:54 PM

Thanks for sharing this inspiring worship project! A nice read for a real jewel of liturgical architecture.

Kennedy Colombo AIA
03-24-2020 04:58 PM

Nice post on a beautiful project.