Built almost 50 years ago, Central Baptist Church’s main campus sanctuary was in need of upgrades, which the church decided to initiate during the pandemic’s restrictions.

Our strategy was to work with the unique attributes of the existing sanctuary’s volume, reading into its geometry what we interpreted as the original architect’s intent, and revealing theological meaning to further add to the space’s role as a place of worship. Illumination was a critical part of the design, and the various details work in tandem with upgraded lighting to “re-enact” the gospel message, highlighting the 4 massive glulam columns and 12 textured concrete slabs that form the loadbearing structure of this beautiful spaceThe newly uncovered numerical symbolism is meant to suggest the fore-bearers and witnesses of our faith, on whose foundation the local church gathers.

The original organ forms a majestic, Fatherly backdrop to a new hanging Cross – the divine Sacrifice – which is surrounded by hovering rings of light to complete the Trinity. Within this new context, the refurbished baptismal behind the stage invokes a picture of Jesus’ own baptism – that moment when heaven was opened, the Spirit of God descended and a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.“ The baptismal area's treatment brings to mind various kinds of imagery: trees planted by streams of water, woven papyrus baskets, torn temple veils, and more. 

The new cross seeks to embody the Gospel message too: the warm glowing solid oak is pierced and squeezed by the cold steel bolts, while a bent steel plate – a crown of thorns– wedges apart the Body of Christ “broken for us”. It is penetrated by the crossbeam that slashes through, causing it to drop within a rectangular slot. Steel cables tug at the beam from two sides, splaying His arms in a moment of heightened tension. These remind us that the Son of God became flesh and was subject to the laws of our realm: gravity, rejection, death. But the cross floats, inviting us into resurrected glory with Him.

Location: Edmonton, Alberta

Status: Completed | 2021