FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH TRANSFORMATION

First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL has deep community roots, and a history dating back over 175 years. So, when we were called to help renovate their existing Lindsey Memorial Auditorium, we knew it was going to be a truly one-of-a-kind project.

The uniqueness of the existing space is quite powerful and undeniable.  In a renovation such as this, our design team needed to take into consideration the character of the existing space in combination with the renovation goals of the church leadership.  The main goal for this project is to take a mid-century modern curvilinear auditorium space and transform it into an inviting worship sanctuary while respecting the overall building aesthetic.  Additionally, the space needs to address the needs of an evolving congregation.

There is a definitive correlation between faith and form, thus there is an association between how and where we worship.

The multi-faceted plan consists of removing existing theater seating in favor of curved pews, enhancing the warmth of the space with wood tones, balancing acoustic concerns with thoughtful material selection, and creating a focal point for worship and leadership.  All of these elemental steps seek to create a place of spiritual respite.  They also strive to strike a balance with transitional design components that create connection across generations and demographics.

There is a definitive correlation between faith and form, thus there is an association between how and where we worship.  There is an unspoken narrative that is conveyed when you enter a place of worship.  The FBC LMA renovation seeks to create a reverent but accessible locale for this church community to gather, connect and give praise – all while acknowledging the history of the building.