The mustard seed is such an appropriate parable that it was told three times in the Bible. As the story goes, the small, oblong seed grew into a large tree that attracted and housed a plethora of birds.
Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG) drew inspiration from that story to design a new church in Glenview, Ill. The 72,000-sf Willow Creek North Shore is an ellipse-shaped building with a 1,200-seat auditorium, cafe, administrative offices, adult ministry spaces, educational classrooms, and other gathering points. Two spacious main entrances are connected to lobbies and circulation paths.
“What was most important in the conceptual design of this building was to create a welcoming feeling and a diagram that was clear and understandable for both the first-time visitor as well as those who attend on a regular basis,” AS+GG Design Partner Adrian Smith said in a statement. “The gentle curve of the circulation paths allow occupants to flow through the space, while enjoying views of the outside.”
The building is elevated 5-8 feet from its original grade, which creates a plateau with sights of the retention pond and the surrounding community.
Floor-to-ceiling windows will be installed to draw in natural light and face toward two landscaped courtyards, which can hold weddings, funerals, and other events.
Construction began in June 2015, and the church is expected to open in the fall of this year.
Along with AS+GG, Architecture, the project team was comprised of Glenn H. Johnson Construction Co. (contractor), Forefront Structural Engineers (structural engineering), and Heager Engineering (civil engineering).
Photo: Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture. Click photo to enlarge.
Photo: Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture. Click photo to enlarge.
Related Stories
Giants 400 | Feb 6, 2023
2022 Religious Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. religious facility construction sector
HOK, Parkhill, KPFF, Shawmut Design and Construction, and Wiss, Janney, Elstner head BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest religious facility sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Religious Facilities | Jan 9, 2023
Santiago Calatrava-designed St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church opens in New York
In December, New York saw the reopening of the new St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine—the only religious structure destroyed on 9/11. Renowned architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava designed St. Nicholas Church to address the traditional Greek Orthodox liturgy while honoring the Church’s connection with the World Trade Center Memorial site.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2022
Top 90 Construction Management Firms for 2022
CBRE, Alfa Tech, Jacobs, and Hill International head the rankings of the nation's largest construction management (as agent) and program/project management firms for nonresidential and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 19, 2022
2022 Giants 400 Report: Tracking the nation's largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms
Now 46 years running, Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report rankings the largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. This year a record 519 AEC firms participated in BD+C's Giants 400 report. The final report includes more than 130 rankings across 25 building sectors and specialty categories.
Giants 400 | Jan 3, 2022
2021 Religious Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. religious facility construction sector, as reported in the 2021 Giants 400 Report
Gensler, KPFF, Crossland Construction, and Rogers-O'Brien Construction head BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest religious facility sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2021 Giants 400 Report.
Religious Facilities | Nov 20, 2021
Places of worship, searching for relevance, upgrade and expand their buildings and reach
Several construction and remodeling projects move toward completion.
Giants 400 | Nov 19, 2021
2021 Cultural Facilities Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. cultural facilities sector
Gensler, AECOM, Buro Happold, and Arup top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest cultural facilities sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2021 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 30, 2021
2021 Giants 400 Report: Ranking the largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S.
The 2021 Giants 400 Report includes more than 130 rankings across 25 building sectors and specialty categories.
Resiliency | Aug 19, 2021
White paper outlines cost-effective flood protection approaches for building owners
A new white paper from Walter P Moore offers an in-depth review of the flood protection process and proven approaches.
![Oceanographer John Englander talks resiliency and buildings [new on HorizonTV]](/sites/default/files/styles/list_big/public/Oceanographer%20John%20Englander%20Talks%20Resiliency%20and%20Buildings%20YT%20new_0.jpg?itok=enJ1TWJ8 "Oceanographer John Englander talks resiliency and buildings [new on HorizonTV]")
Resiliency | Jun 24, 2021
Oceanographer John Englander talks resiliency and buildings [new on HorizonTV]
New on HorizonTV, oceanographer John Englander discusses his latest book, which warns that, regardless of resilience efforts, sea levels will rise by meters in the coming decades. Adaptation, he says, is the key to future building design and construction.
