Central United Church

Central United wished to review how their 1905 church building met the current and future needs of the downtown Calgary community it serves. As the building is adjacent to a prominent CTrain stop, this study focused on how it could be accessible and open to drop-ins while maintaining security for core operations. The concept design made rentable spaces for outside groups more welcoming and easily connected to building entrances—a difficult feat in a corridor-filled church spread over 7 different levels. At the same time, the design removed nonrentable spaces (such as offices for staff) from public traffic by including architectural barriers that turn passersby away more subtly and respectfully than signs or ropes.