This 32,000 sf, $6,834,000 first phase of a church and school assembles simple pragmatic forms per typical Midwest agrarian praxis, finishes the ensemble in forthright, durable materials, and integrates sustainable systems throughout. Both school and sanctuary minimize energy usage and maximize beneficial solar penetration. Classrooms’ angled ceilings diffuse northern daylight deep into the space while operable windows encourage air circulation and user control. Continuous insulation in the building envelope minimizes thermal bridging. As the net result of these intelligent passive and active strategies, the building is projected to utilize 45% less energy than comparable church and school buildings.

Jury Notes: The Architects captured the contemporary essence of a traditional religious typology. This timeless yet understated building shows a real sensitivity towards place, materials and its program. There is a beautifully choreographed sequence of tectonic building assembly that elegantly stitches together a modernist design ideology with agrarian roots.