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Holy Trinity Episcopal School, Houston

HOLY TRINITY EPISCOPAL SCHOOL, HOUSTON

Holy Trinity Episcopal School is located in northeast Houston, and serves students from PK-3 through 5th grade. The mission of HTES is “to prepare students for higher education and a meaningful life experience through a program emphasizing academic excellence, spiritual development, and social responsibility.”

The project includes a complete transformation of the building interiors, along with many exterior improvements. The existing building felt outdated and did not serve the school’s vision of a welcoming, engaging, and inspiring place for learning. In addition, HTES wanted to remove several old portable buildings that were adversely impacting the image of the campus. To accomplish this, new classrooms were created inside the main building. Functionally, HTES requested a dedicated cafeteria, a theater, upgraded toilet rooms, and reconfigured administrative offices.

HTES is now a vibrant and energetic place for learning! The lobby is welcoming and provides improved security through a vestibule. Fresh finishes and furniture brighten the classrooms, and the hallways are colorful and dynamic. To support performing arts, the existing gym was renovated into a gymnatorium through the introduction of a stage, acoustical panels, sports flooring, and new audio/visual/lighting equipment. Extra space in the gym was captured to create two classrooms and a multi-purpose cafeteria/chapel. Outside, a canopy next to the cafeteria provides a wonderful place to eat outside with views of the student garden. At the front of the school, a new canopy allows student to be picked up and dropped off under cover, and the playground was significantly upgraded. The renovation of the campus has provided much needed improvements to help the school accomplish its mission to prepare students for higher education and a meaningful life experience.


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HOLY TRINITY EPISCOPAL SCHOOL, HOUSTON

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Post Oak School Museum District Campus, Houston

POST OAK SCHOOL MUSEUM DISTRICT CAMPUS, HOUSTON

Improvements made by MHPA to the Post Oak School Museum District Campus include a new “Tinker Lab” Makerspace Building, a Classroom Building, and a Pavilion.

The Tinker Lab provides a larger home for the school’s Makerspace curriculum and includes a covered work area to facilitate outdoor projects such as making Art Cars. The Lab creates a new edge for the school’s main courtyard, which was renovated to provide more usable outdoor space for socializing and athletics.

The Pavilion provides much needed covered outdoor space for basketball, volleyball, netball, and special events. Sunshades and large fans help keep the space cool. The adjacent Classroom Building was made with portable buildings, customized to blend in with the architectural character of the campus. A green lawn between the Pavilion and Classroom Building provides additional recreation space.


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POST OAK SCHOOL MUSEUM DISTRICT CAMPUS, HOUSTON

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Alief Montessori Community School, Houston

ALIEF MONTESSORI COMMUNITY SCHOOL, HOUSTON

The new 21,000 S.F. building provides classrooms, enrichment spaces, and a theater that will allow the school to expand its popular curriculum through the middle school level. Large, light-filled, flexible classrooms accommodate the school’s Montessori pedagogy. The theater can host an audience of 300, or be divided into multiple classrooms, and the exterior is clad with metal paneling to match the existing campus.


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ALIEF MONTESSORI COMMUNITY SCHOOL, HOUSTON

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St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Houston

ST. PAUL’S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, HOUSTON

St. Paul’s Revive Campaign focused on several needed improvements including restoration of the exterior shell, replacing the outdated HVAC and electrical systems, and improving accessibility. There were also water damage repairs and an extensive renovation of the basement level.


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ST. PAUL’S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, HOUSTON

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Bellaire United Methodist Church, Bellaire

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.


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BELLAIRE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, BELLAIRE

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New Faith Church Youth Building, Houston

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.


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NEW FAITH CHURCH YOUTH BUILDING, HOUSTON

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Epiphany of the Lord Catholic School, Katy

Epiphany of the Lord Catholic School, Katy

Epiphany of the Lord Catholic School was commissioned by the Archdiocese of Galveston Houston to establish a new Catholic day school in Katy. Our firm developed a master plan to study the viability of the school, and to address building issues that had arisen over the parish’s twenty-five years of growth. The master plan adds a new two-story classroom building to replace outdated single-story education buildings. The new classroom building, in addition to renovations within the existing faith formation building, will accommodate a new day school for over eight-hundred children. Working closely with the building committee, our firm employed a classical architectural style, to reflect a Catholic education at Epiphany and to differentiate the school from nearby Katy ISD schools.


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Epiphany of the Lord Catholic School, Katy

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SER-Niños Charter School Library, Houston

SER-Niños Charter School Library, Houston

The SER-Niños Charter School new Library is the result of a collaborative effort between the school and the Houston Public Library. It will provide library services to the adjacent lower school and middle school campuses during school hours; after school hours it will function as a Houston Public Library. Funded in part through a City of Houston Community Block Development Grant, the project has been touted as a model for future collaborative efforts between institutions of learning and the City. A Community Room, along with the entire library, will build bridges between the school, the Houston Public Library and the surrounding Gulfton community by providing multiple education and training opportunities for parents and staff. The Reading Room has expansive shaded windows on all sides, along with programmable light fixtures and window shades that will automatically adjust to create ideal lighting in the room. The library is sited at the front of the school and through its prominent location serve as a beacon to the neighborhood. The project was completed in January 2018.


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SER-Niños Charter School Library, Houston

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Memorial Church of Christ, Houston

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.


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Memorial Church of Christ, Houston

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South Main Baptist Church, Houston

SOUTH MAIN BAPTIST CHURCH, HOUSTON

Located in Houston’s developing Midtown, South Main Baptist Church has a vibrant and growing congregation rooted deep in the history of Houston. Established in 1903, the church built its Romanesque-style Sanctuary in 1930. The scope of MHP’s work included restoring the beautifully painted ceiling in the Sanctuary, improving the acoustical qualities of the room for a new pipe organ, expanding the Chancel to provide space for orchestral performances, adding new performance and congregational lighting, and installing a discreet new sound system. A new wood floor replaced red carpet in the Nave and a stone floor replaced red carpet on the expanded Chancel. The renovation of the Fellowship Hall, located below the Sanctuary, included restoration of the original cast iron columns, which had been wrapped in sheetrock, and reconfiguration of the ductwork to expose the full height of the original windows.


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South Main Baptist Church, Houston

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CrossPoint Community Church, Katy

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.


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CrossPoint Community Church, Katy

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Sugar Land Baptist Church, Sugar Land

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.


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Sugar Land Baptist Church, Sugar Land

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Crime Stoppers Headquarters Building, Houston

Crime Stoppers Headquarters Building, Houston

The 27,000 sq ft Dave Ward Building will be the first Crime Stoppers headquarters in the nation, and Houston’s First Public Safety and Crime Prevention Block. As a mission-driven monument to crime prevention, this building will be a highly efficient, secure hub for centralized operations, staff, volunteers, victims, law enforcement and the media — all of which are now located in widely separated buildings.


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Crime Stoppers Headquarters Building, Houston

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Salem Lutheran Church, Tomball

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.


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Salem Lutheran Church, Tomball

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Memorial Drive United Methodist Church Connection Center, Houston

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.


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Memorial Drive United Methodist Church Connection Center, Houston

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Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, Houston

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).


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Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, Houston

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Chapel of St. Thomas, Houston

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.


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Chapel of St. Thomas, Houston

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Houston’s First Baptist Church

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.


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Houston’s First Baptist Church

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HOUSTON CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL, HOUSTON

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).


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HOUSTON CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL, HOUSTON

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Woodlands Community Presbyterian Church, The Woodlands

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.


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Woodlands Community Presbyterian Church, The Woodlands

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Chapelwood United Methodist Church, Houston

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.


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Chapelwood United Methodist Church, Houston

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First Baptist Church, Keller

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.


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First Baptist Church, Keller

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Concordia Lutheran High School, Tomball

Concordia Lutheran High School, Tomball

The new academic wing, commons and pavilion are the first phase of our firm’s master plan for Concordia Lutheran High School. The new academic wing creates the fresh and inviting image to the community that the school sought to project. The commons provides a versatile space for collaborative learning, large group meetings, receptions and special events. The pavilion, an adjacent covered “porch” to the commons, creates a shaded outdoor area for dining and special events, activating a formerly unused outdoor space. Future phases will include a new fine arts center, athletic center expansion, new field house and new athletic fields.


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Concordia Lutheran High School, Tomball

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All Saints Episcopal School, Beaumont

All Saints Episcopal School, Beaumont

All Saints Episcopal School sought to expand their mid-century style campus, originally designed by Fehr and Granger of Austin. While recent additions to the school had abandoned the gentle barrel vault roofs and stone walls of the original school, our firm’s additions recapture both the character and the energy efficiency of the school’s original architecture. The project provides a classroom “pod” for grades three through five, a new dining pavilion, and renovated administrative offices.


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All Saints Episcopal School, Beaumont

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SER-Niños Charter Elementary School, Houston

SER-Niños Charter Elementary School, Houston

This 33,000 S.F. building formed the second campus for SER-Niños Charter School. The school provides for children in Pre-Kindergarten through Fifth Grade for families in the Gulfton area of Houston. In addition to providing two Classrooms per grade, the program includes a Multi-Purpose Gymnasium/ Cafeteria/ Auditorium, Kitchen, Library, Administrative space and Enrichment Rooms. Brightly colored metal panels are used with brick to give a fresh and vibrant image to the school.


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SER-Niños Charter Elementary School, Houston

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St. Paul’s School, Houston

St. Paul’s School, Houston

This 10,000 sq ft addition and 25,000 sq ft renovation provides for expansion and enhancement of St. Paul’s School. The work has transformed a dark, outdated building into a light, vibrant, and new building that is especially inviting to children. The building provides a fresh contrast with the historic Gothic sanctuary and has been certified LEED Silver. The scope of work included restoring the exterior stone and replacing all of the windows with new energy efficient windows.


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St. Paul’s School, Houston

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