Architect: Clearscapes, PA
Project Location: Raleigh, NC
Project Completion Date: Nov, 2016
Short Description: Christ Episcopal is the only National Historic Landmark church in North Carolina. As one of (4) churches facing Union Square, the original sanctuary was designed in 1848 by Richard Upjohn, architect of New York’s Trinity Church and the founder of the AIA. His grandson, Hobart Upjohn, designed the 1913 Chapel and Parish Hall that is connected to the sanctuary by arched cloisters. The complex had been modified and expanded numerous times including an unremarkable 1970’s education wing. This evolution led to disjointed internal circulation, lack of quality public gathering spaces, and a major east entry through an emergency fire stair.
Architect’s Statement: As one of the first Gothic Revival churches in the American South, today’s congregation was committed to expanding the facility to meet contemporary needs as the complex entered its third century. The addition creates a major new entry from the east that serves as a threshold into the Capital Square National Register Historic District. Its quiet reinterpretation of Gothic Revival architecture makes it a sensitive expansion of the existing important historic structures. By redefining the major public spaces, a new circulation spine is created through the complex, that terminates at the iconic bell tower facing the Capital. Original exterior granite walls, including arches and columns, that were concealed for over (50) years within the building’s interior have once again been exposed to the main public gathering spaces, adding richness and connection to the building’s historic architecture. By the simple introduction of structural glass walls, the significant exterior courtyards to the building’s south and west are connected to these interior public spaces, enhancing their quality. Finally, the expansion of the Parish Hall to serve larger church and community functions and the addition of a full commercial kitchen allows Christ Church to expand its mission as a major urban community center.
Type of Construction: Construction type and materiality were carefully considered to ensure that the addition is an honest expression of 21 st Century construction techniques while being sensitive to the historic buildings built in the mid-19 th and early 20 th Century. The result was a material palette pulled from the existing architecture and reinterpreted using contemporary strategies. North Carolina granite is clearly one of the material definers of these buildings. While the local Wake County quarry had long since closed, a statewide search resulted in a granite seam in western North Carolina that matched the range of color and texture of the original stone. White Oak traditionally used throughout the complex for roof structure, decking, floors, and highly crafted millwork was again incorporated into the material pallet utilizing techniques that clearly express its historic precedent in an imaginative contemporary manner. One example is a wood slat ceiling in the public spaces which allows sound to be absorbed by significant insulation above which creates high quality acoustics in the public spaces. The use of structural glass walls highlights the historic granite and limestone columns and arches, pulling them visually into the main gathering spaces while allowing total transparency to embrace the exterior courtyards and iconic bell tower. Visually quiet terrazzo floors in the main spaces ground the rich millwork and stone while deferring to those materials. Finally, the use of clay roofing tiles visually connects the addition to this significant roofscape which spans (3) centuries.
Tower Award Description: Christ Episcopal is the only National Historic Landmark church in North Carolina. As one of four churches facing Union Square, the original sanctuary was designed in 1848 by Richard Upjohn, architect of New York’s Trinity Church and the founder of the AIA. His grandson, Hobart Upjohn, designed the 1913 Chapel and Parish Hall that is connected to the sanctuary by arched cloisters. The complex had been modified and expanded numerous times, including an unremarkable 1970’s education wing. This evolution led to disjointed internal circulation, lack of quality public gathering spaces, and a major east entry through an emergency fire stair.
Tower Award Architect’s Statement Concerning Design Program and
Tower Award Lessons Learned: Adapting a National Historic Landmark church comes with great responsibility, and changes to the historic fabric can only be successful with a highly interactive design process that engages the congregation and the broader community. The decision for the addition and renovation to defer to the existing structures on campus, given their historic importance and their connection to significant architects, proved to be successful. Like an artifact unearthed in an archeological dig, revealing the historic stone walls along the reorganized circulation spine celebrates the significance of this church throughout the last 2 centuries and immediately connects visitors to its rich history.
Tower Award Project Economics: The Vestry of Christ Church understood their responsibility as the current stewards of this important historic landmark. Given the consistent high-quality materials and craftsmanship used throughout the major spaces on the campus (sanctuary, chapel, parish hall), they committed to raise the resources necessary to achieve equivalent quality in the addition and renovated spaces. The congregation understood that Christ Church is not only a place of worship and community – it represents a link to Raleigh’s history that predates the Civil War. In order to invest their resources wisely, the Vestry hired an experienced Owner’s Representative who had spent his career managing Wake County’s Facilities Design & Construction office, an Architect who has deep experience in the design and renovation of sensitive historic structures, and a Construction Manager who has significant experience with building churches, renovating historic buildings, and managing tight urban construction sites.