EducationARCHITECT
EducationARCHITECT
Volume 25 Number 4
ADDRESSING THE DESIGN NEEDS OF TODAY'S NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Dedication Celebration
Dedication Celebration
St. Bede the Venerable Parish
St. Bede the Venerable Parish
After more than 11 years of planning and design, the new Parish Hall for St. Bede the Venerable Church in La Cañada-Flintridge is finally complete! A celebratory mass and ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the auspicious occasion.
Established in 1952, the St. Bede campus began with a modest Mission-style church and classroom annex. By 1967 the growing congregation joined together to finance and construct a larger sacred space. The late-1960s cathedral-like edifice is a classic example of the Mid-Century Modern design style.
With the advent of the new church, the original was repurposed as a Parish Hall. While the added function was welcome, physical limitations hindered the bourgeoning programs. Over time, life cycle issues and high operating costs became concerning.
In 2013, under the leadership of previous Pastor Msgr. Antonio Cacciapuoti, and with the encouragement of Bishop Gerald Wilkerson, St. Bede initiated a feasibility study to determine a direction forward for the Parish Hall. Noted Los Angeles-based Pica + Sullivan Architects were retained to engage with the community; studying and costing multiple alternatives - from renovation to new construction. After considerable review and discussion, St. Bede, with the blessing of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, elected to construct a new facility.
St. Bede Parish Hall ribbon-cutting - Mayor Michael Davitt, Pastor Rev. Jim Bevaqua, Bishop Albert Bahhuth, Msgr. Antonio Caciapuoti, and Parishioner Mike Smith. Project by Pica + Sullivan Architects.
View of the New St. Bede the Venerable Parish Hall from Foothill Boulevard. Project by Pica + Sullivan Architects.
The design and engineering team included Johnson-Leifield Structural Engineers, VCA, Inc. Civil Engineers, Carter Romanek Landscape Architects, Alfa Tech, Inc. Plumbing and Electrical Engineers, and Wittler Young, Inc. Mechanical Engineers. The kitchen was designed by Surfas Culinary District. Chu + Dohn Acoustical Con-sultants and KGM Architectural Lighting, Inc. also contributed to the design effort. TG Construction, Inc. was the General Contractor and Searock + Stafford CM, Inc. provided construction management.
The new 15,000 square-ft Parish Hall includes a 5,000 square-ft multipurpose space, a music room, a Parent Education Center, a conference room, ample restrooms, storage and support spaces. The multipurpose space is designed to also function as a regulation Junior High gymnasium.
A new 1,200 square-ft state-of-the-art commercial kitchen, contiguous to the multipurpose space, will cater the school lunch program, parish events and receptions. The kitchen will also accommodate the Brothers Helpers and Skidettes. These outreach ministries provide more than 500,000 meals each year to the underserved and marginalized in the local community.
The east wall of the multipurpose room is lined with french doors; encouraging the expansion of the hall activities to the outside. The newly designed exterior court incorporates multiple seating venues, significant planting and trees, new landscape ground cover and hardscape, a water fountain, a fire pit, and a tree-shaded parking area.
The wisdom of the parish's patron saint, Bede the Venerable, is expressed in the courtyard. Discretely inscribed within the fountain basin is a quote by the English monk and scholar. "I was no longer the center of my life and therefore I could see God in everything."
The architecture of the new Parish Hall references the original structure. Echoing the Mission heritage, the design includes a sloped Spanish tile roof (including much of the original tile), thick plaster walls and a partial arcade. Vertical windows and modern accents complement the adjacent church.
The design and engineering team included Johnson-Leifield Structural Engineers, VCA, Inc. Civil Engineers, Carter Romanek Landscape Architects, Alfa Tech, Inc. Plumbing and Electrical Engineers, and Wittler Young, Inc. Mechanical Engineers. The kitchen was designed by Surfas Culinary District. Chu + Dohn Acoustical Con-sultants and KGM Architectural Lighting, Inc. also contributed to the design effort. TG Construction, Inc. was the General Contractor and Searock + Stafford CM, Inc. provided construction management.
The new 15,000 square-ft Parish Hall includes a 5,000 square-ft multipurpose space, a music room, a Parent Education Center, a conference room, ample restrooms, storage and support spaces. The multipurpose space is designed to also function as a regulation Junior High gymnasium.
A new 1,200 square-ft state-of-the-art commercial kitchen, contiguous to the multipurpose space, will cater the school lunch program, parish events and receptions. The kitchen will also accommodate the Brothers Helpers and Skidettes. These outreach ministries provide more than 500,000 meals each year to the underserved and marginalized in the local community.
The east wall of the multipurpose room is lined with french doors; encouraging the expansion of the hall activities to the outside. The newly designed exterior court incorporates multiple seating venues, significant planting and trees, new landscape ground cover and hardscape, a water fountain, a fire pit, and a tree-shaded parking area.
The wisdom of the parish's patron saint, Bede the Venerable, is expressed in the courtyard. Discretely inscribed within the fountain basin is a quote by the English monk and scholar. "I was no longer the center of my life and therefore I could see God in everything."
The architecture of the new Parish Hall references the original structure. Echoing the Mission heritage, the design includes a sloped Spanish tile roof (including much of the original tile), thick plaster walls and a partial arcade. Vertical windows and modern accents complement the adjacent church.
The Parish Hall is the Heart of the Community
The Parish Hall is the Heart of the Community
View of the New St. Bede the Venerable Parish Hall from Foothill Boulevard. Project by Pica + Sullivan Architects.
The completed Hall integrates cherished items from the original building. These include the bell tower cross and the Madonna and Child statue. A replica of the original arched front door is installed as a wall sculpture in the multipurpose space. The insignia "AD 1952" above the original entryway was preserved and relocated above this central feature.
The Parish Hall design incorporates numerous “sustainability” features including use of recycled materials, installation of a high efficiency HVAC system, significant insulation and double-pane glazing to minimize heat gain/loss, energy-saving interior light fixtures, natural daylight in all rooms, and significant acoustical treatment throughout.
The landscape includes drought resistant plants and low volume subsurface irrigation. The project utilizes Low Impact Design (LID) cisterns to collect and infiltrate storm water into the aquafer.
As noted by St. Bede Pastor Father Jim Bevac-qua, “The new Parish Hall will offer facilities for activities which will serve the community for generations to come. The new spaces will accommodate our community and inspire our faith through the ministries that enrich our worship."
The completed Hall integrates cherished items from the original building. These include the bell tower cross and the Madonna and Child statue. A replica of the original arched front door is installed as a wall sculpture in the multipurpose space. The insignia "AD 1952" above the original entryway was preserved and relocated above this central feature.
The Parish Hall design incorporates numerous “sustainability” features including use of recycled materials, installation of a high efficiency HVAC system, significant insulation and double-pane glazing to minimize heat gain/loss, energy-saving interior light fixtures, natural daylight in all rooms, and significant acoustical treatment throughout.
The landscape includes drought resistant plants and low volume subsurface irrigation. The project utilizes Low Impact Design (LID) cisterns to collect and infiltrate storm water into the aquafer.
As noted by St. Bede Pastor Father Jim Bevac-qua, “The new Parish Hall will offer facilities for activities which will serve the community for generations to come. The new spaces will accommodate our community and inspire our faith through the ministries that enrich our worship."
Pica + Sullivan Architects, Ltd.
Specialize in architectural design and master planning for non-profit independent institutions, religious-based organizations, nonprofit social service organizations and charitable foundations in Southern California. We have been involved in the design of well over 1,000 projects since our 1990 inception. These projects range in size from campus master planning to design for remodels, additions, and new buildings. To meet the special design needs of nonprofit institutions, Pica + Sullivan have established management systems and resources for large new construction projects as well as small remodeling jobs. In order to deliver the services of architecture and planning to our clients, Pica + Sullivan has an approach that includes hands-on principals, a flexible and responsive staff, a value-engineering sensibility, a belief in contextual architecture and a deep understanding of the non-profit client.