New facilities designed by Studio RED Architects maximize space and functional flexibility, provide needed room for growing Conroe church
Houston-based architectural firm Studio RED Architects has completed work on a new addition for Mims Baptist Church. Ground was broken on the 36,000 s.f. Conroe project late in 2012 and construction was completed in well under a year. New facilities include a preschool, childrens’ ministry building, adult education classrooms and banquet hall.
Following a period of expansion that led the church to outgrow its original space, the church planning committee hoped to incorporate potentially conflicting design goals. It was critical that ministries functionally separated in different buildings be reconnected in a unified space; however, the church wanted the addition to blend seamlessly with the original main worship center. Studio RED Architects was able to design adjacencies to the main worship space that created cohesion without compromising the function of individual ministries.
Church officials praise Studio RED Architects’ commitment to cooperation and conduct of an open review and design process as keys to the project’s success. “After working closely with the church planning committee, we were able to present them with a range of available options based on scope and budget,” said Project Manager, Micah Simecek. “From there, we devised a construction strategy that accomplished the most pressing needs immediately while maintaining the flexibility to review and adjust follow-up plans.”
Members are now celebrating the extra space, along with the broadened scope allowed by the expansion. The new addition is itself capable of being expanded and Studio RED Architects have designed flexibility into the new facilities: classroom spaces can accommodate multiple functions and operable partitions can merge areas or delineate new spaces. This flexibility allows design aspirations and budget necessities to exist in harmony.
Mims Baptist Church represents the latest successful project in Studio RED Architects’ growing portfolio of worship center designs. Studio RED Architects has already begun the next phase of work at Mims Baptist Church, a 10,000 s.f. complete renovation of the existing Fellowship Building, to include a learning annex and classrooms for young adults. Classes in this new space are scheduled to begin early 2014.
About Studio RED
Micah Simecek is a Project Manager at Studio RED with nearly 10 years of experience in new construction and renovation projects. His practical approach to challenges on medium and large-scale projects yields valuable solutions for institutional, corporate and higher education clients.
Studio RED Architects is a Houston-based architectural firm with a reputation for design and excellence in entertainment, commercial and worship facilities. Notable projects include worship centers such as Lakewood Church, performing arts centers such as the Texas Southmost College Music Education Building, and renovation projects such as the LEED award-winning City of Houston Permitting Center.
