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Westwood Community Church

The Westwood Community Church site is a 57.08 acre parcel. Phase 1 will accommodate approximately 70,000 SF of a planned 202,000 SF campus. The Westwood campus design is intended to meet the functional needs of Westwood Community Church within the context of a native orchard landscape. The preservation of the surrounding natural topography will lend itself to dramatic vistas of the wetland/prairie/orchard/windbreak pattern across the Westwood landscape. The building's form recalls the historic legacy of park architecture in its use of natural materials, sense of permanence and simplicity, and its integration with the natural features of the site. The design for the Phase 1 building serves the programmatic and functional needs of the church, and creates a form that responds to the context and environment of its site. It consists of a three-story building containing almost 70,000 SF of space. The design takes advantage of the sloping site to create a lower level with on-grade access from much of the level. The lower level houses Christian education functions as a Christian preschool during the week. The main floor level contains an interim worship space seating 1,000 people, which can be reconfigured for banquets and other community events. The main level also contains a gathering space, an information desk, and other hospitality functions. The upper level houses Westwood's staff offices and administrative functions. The lower level is clad in stone, creating a sense of solidity, permanence, and connection to the land. The smaller main level is largely clad in glass, providing the church with a strong visual tie to the landscape, and establishing a spirit of openness and accessibility to the community. A terrace surrounding the main level allows space for outdoor gathering and movement down to the ground. A wood and metal trellis defines the main entry and welcomes visitors from the parking lot. Wood board siding and a simple, sheltering gable roof enclose the upper level and mark the church's place on the broader landscape. Future phases are planned to include additional worship space for 2,400, additional space for children, space for students, a gymnasium, a dedicated gathering node, a chapel, and a yet-to-be-programmed building that will be an extension of the church's desire to participate with the community.