ST. FRANCIS EPISCOPAL CHURCH, HOUSTON

The project consists of a 20,500 S.F. addition to St. Francis Episcopal Church. The two-story addition provides a new Parish Hall, a new commercial Kitchen, new and renovated Administrative Offices, new Nursery and Pre-School classrooms, new Adult and Young Adult classrooms, and a large sub-divided storage space serving each of the church’s ministry groups.

The focal point of the project is a 3,150 S.F. light-filled new Parish Hall, with tall widows on three sides framing views through the trees to the campus and neighborhood. The Parish Hall’s rich wood detailing references that of the adjacent Sanctuary. Along with the Sanctuary, the Parish Hall is the center of Parish life and will equip the church to expand and enrich its ministry to the St. Francis parish and to the community. The flexible multi-purpose classrooms located on the second floor will provide much needed space for Christian education and ministry meetings. It will also provide space for outreach programs such as the Boy Scouts.

The addition reflects the architectural character of the existing campus and connects seamlessly with the adjacent Sanctuary and weekday School. At the same time, it creates a fresh and inviting image that reflects the vitality of St. Francis’s ministry. MHP is honored to have had a part in creating an important new chapter in the life of this great church.

LAWN AT THE LOOP – HOUSTON FIRST BAPTIST

MHP’s renovation of Houston’s First Baptist Church central courtyard has transformed a dull and underutilized space into a vibrant multi-purpose space for the church, school, and community. Activities include movie nights, concerts, picnics and a variety of other large and small outdoor activities.

SAGEMONT CHURCH STUDENT MINISTRY BUILDING, HOUSTON

The project is the first phase of a long-range Master Plan that provides a comprehensive replanning of the original side of the campus. Prior to the project, Student Ministry occupied multiple areas around campus. Now they enjoy 50,000 square feet under one roof, in an open and airy new home.

The new building presents an exciting and modern image to the community. It is strategically located at the northeast corner of the campus, and is highly visible from Hughes Road. While having a fresh appearance, the two-story gable form matches the shape and scale of other campus buildings. It is clad with metal paneling in three different colors and patterns, with the base clad in red paneling to relate to the red brick campus.

The interiors are characterized by open, flowing spaces for gathering, games, breakout, and worship. The structure is exposed in many areas, to make the spaces feel more open and to provide the aesthetic desired by students. Two large groups can meet simultaneously in the building, with 1,000 in the worship room on the second floor, and 500 in the gathering space on the first floor. Students share the building with other ministries when they are not using it.

ST. THERESA CATHOLIC CHURCH & SCHOOL, HOUSTON

BELLAIRE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, BELLAIRE

The Master Plan re-envisions the campus with a focus on providing inviting and comfortable spaces that respond better to the church’s various ministry needs. The Phase 1 project includes a conversion of the Parlor into a Welcome Center, and a renovation of the Fellowship Hall and Sanctuary. Phase 1 also includes the renovation of hallways, kitchen, and the main toilet rooms. The main entrance and parking lot have been completely renovated to be more welcoming and offer outdoor space to gather.

NEW FAITH CHURCH YOUTH BUILDING, HOUSTON

MHPA worked closely with New Faith Church to renovate their space for Youth Ministry. The design brings light, color and vibrancy to the formerly dark and dreary area through new finishes and fixtures, giving life to the aging facilities.

MEMORIAL CHURCH OF CHRIST, HOUSTON

This 38,000 sq. ft. addition addresses the church’s needs for a fellowship gathering space, a chapel, and classrooms for children and adults. The new chapel is a 300 seat, light-filled space that overlooks the oaked-lined lawn along Echo Lane. The fellowship gathering space has become the “heart” of the church, and is a hub that connects the front of the campus to the main parking lot. The children’s bible study rooms and indoor play area are bright and modern. The adult classrooms are flexible, warm and are fully integrated with the latest technology. This addition provides a fresh look while respecting the current architecture of the existing campus.

CROSSPOINT COMMUNITY CHURCH, KATY

CrossPoint Community Church seeks to be “the community church for those who don’t have a church home”, and is dedicated to serving the community through activities such as sports programs and Christian pre-school. To that end, it sought a compelling and unconventional image as it expanded its existing campus. Our addition provides a 1,200 seat interim sanctuary and new children’s wing. The multi-purpose sanctuary accommodates worship services, basketball, concerts, theater, and large community gatherings. In contrast to the predominance of “black boxes” for many new churches, the sanctuary has large windows that provide abundant natural light but can be darkened for video use, such as the environmental projection used to transform the interior. Glass garage doors connect the sanctuary to a light-filled gathering space that overlooks a memorial garden and courtyard. Metal siding and panels give the church and school a fresh and compelling community image.

Sugar Land Baptist Church, Sugar Land

Having outgrown their 5-acre site in, the church purchased a new 15-acre site at the entrance to the neighborhood. The first phase of the master plan for a 200,000 sq ft campus was a 56,000 sq ft activity center. The second phase, a 2200-seat sanctuary, is the focal point of the campus and serves as a “beacon of hope” to the First Colony community of Sugar Land. The sanctuary’s acoustics and lighting were planned so that it can serve as a venue for community concerts. The first floor offices and classrooms are designed to accommodate two additional floors above them.

SALEM LUTHERAN CHURCH, TOMBALL

Salem Lutheran Church was founded in 1851 and now has a campus with over 100 acres in Northwest Harris County. Salem Lutheran School, founded in 1852 with a one room schoolhouse, now has 600 students from Early Childhood to 8th grade. The Master Plan takes a comprehensive and fresh look at the entire campus and calls for a multi-phased plan. Improvements include a new K-8th grade school building; new athletic fields and support spaces; expanded community center; new fellowship hall; expanded Narthex for space to gather after services; and a new chapel. The plan includes abundant green spaces between buildings, continuing the beautiful natural setting throughout the campus. Gracious pathways connect buildings and spaces and create an intuitive way to move about the large campus. Phase 1, a 20,000 S.F. renovation and new covered drop-off, included converting the Pastors’ offices into new school classrooms, and relocating the Pastors’ offices to an underutilized area at the front of the church.

Memorial Drive United Methodist Church Connection Center, Houston

The Well is our firm’s third renovation project in the Connection Center, a shopping center the church acquired to expand its outreach ministries. The Well transforms a former Eckerd Drug Store into a new contemporary worship venue and multi-use performance space for the church. It includes an inviting coffee shop, classrooms and a child care room.

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, Houston

Our firm’s additions have respected the Prairie Style architecture of the original church, designed by Mackie and Kamrath. Projects have included a 40,000 sq ft Activity Center, a new 20,000 sq ft Administrative Classroom Building, and extensive renovations of the existing buildings. Those renovations included the sanctuary, music suite, and children’s and youth facilities. (Bill Merriman was lead design principal for an earlier addition that provided a new fellowship hall, chapel and classroom building addition).

Chapel of St. Thomas, Houston

The 6,500 SF Chapel designed by Philip Johnson has become the focal point for the University of St. Thomas campus and a Houston landmark. Merriman Holt Powell served as the architect of record for the project, with responsibility for production of construction documents and construction administration.

Houston’s First Baptist

Faced with dynamic growth in the Pre-School area, Houston’s First Baptist Church commissioned Merriman Holt Powell Architects to develop a comprehensive Master Plan to insure that any improvements to the Pre-School were in concert with an overall long-term vision. The first phase of that Master Plan included a 13,250 S.F. addition and 51,700 S.F. renovation of the Pre-School/Children’s Building that created a more secure, inviting and vibrant new space for those ministries. Subsequent projects included renovations of Adult Ministries space, Young Adult Fellowship space, First Baptist Academy (Pre K-Middle School) Classroom and Office Space, and a Special Needs Suite.

HOUSTON CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL, HOUSTON

Houston Christian High School’s 45-acre campus is designed to create a college-like atmosphere, with individual buildings built around a cruciform courtyard connected by cloistered walkways. In the center, a “town square” is created by the library, fine arts center, student center, and administration. Small outdoor seating groups adjacent to the cloistered walkways provide opportunities for small group meetings or casual conversations. (Merriman Holt Architects was the Design Architect in association with Bay Architects for the academic quadrangle and gymnasium. Merriman Holt Architects was the Architect for three subsequent phases of work: the fine arts center, the auxiliary gymnasium and the 600-seat chapel).

Woodlands Community Presbyterian Church, The Woodlands

The third phase of a Master Plan developed by our firm, the 750 seat Sanctuary was designed to complement its natural wooded site. Earlier phases included a classroom building and the fellowship hall. Strategically placed windows in both the sanctuary and fellowship hall take advantage of the wooded setting and utilize filtered natural light.

Chapelwood United Methodist Church, Houston

Chapelwood United Methodist Church had grown from being a small “Chapel in the Woods” to becoming a major church with over 5,000 members. Over time, however, the church had constructed various additions without a coherent master plan, resulting in a campus plan that was confusing and disorienting to visitors and members alike. Our Master Plan of 1997 tied the campus together with a “main street” corridor that wove together the disparate parts of the campus. The plan also replaced outdated wood-framed single-story classroom buildings with new two-story buildings. The updated 2008 Master Plan provided for a new youth center, children’s building and expanded space for the church’s special needs ministry.

First Baptist Church, Keller

With the rapid growth of the City of Keller and its surroundings, First Baptist Church Keller realized it was time to update and expand their campus. Existing corridors were congested, the church lacked space for casual fellowship, and the buildings were uninviting to visitors. Our 41,000 sq ft addition replaced an outdated one-story building with a new three-story classroom/administration building and a gracious fellowship gathering area. The massing and materials of the three-story addition graciously relate to the existing two-story building. The colorful new children’s center is designed to appeal to young families.