The 500-seat worship center at St. Therese Catholic Church in Sioux Falls, SD, was designed to create a sense of reverence when parishioners gather to worship. The contemporary-style center has a traditional gable roof with a tongue-and-groove natural wood deck ceiling and exposed trusses. Along the walls, the wood transitions to gray acoustical panels, which complement the cast-in-place concrete columns constructed near the end of the rows of pews. Hand-wrought iron roses serve as door pulls and Stations of the Cross, and a statue of the saint stands amid a rose garden.The contrast between Saint Therese's life as a cloistered nun and her outreach through her writings was also a key influence on the design. Reflecting this contrast, some areas of the building are cloistered and introspective, while others, such as the gathering spaces, have been arranged to afford views of Sioux Falls and the Cathedral in the distance. "The whole design concept was to use natural, honest materials to celebrate the humble lifestyle of the saint for whom the facility is named," said Blaine McCulloh, LC, project manager, Alvine & Associates, Inc., Omaha, NE.
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