CHURCH AT THE CROSS - LOBBY
THE BRIEF
Church at the Cross is a multicultural church family in the Orlando area doing whatever it takes to give the hope of Jesus to all. There are several unique aspects of their DNA that set them apart from other churches in the area. First, their campus, located near a main highway interchange, has been a landmark in Orlando for years because of a giant sculpture of a cross that can be seen from miles away. Second, they celebrate the fact that they are the most diverse church congregation in Orlando, with 5 language communities. Third, one of their largest ministries is a private high school, Central Florida Christian Academy.
The leadership at CATC reached out to me to help transform their lobby space after one of their staff members referred them to me because of the Spatial Branding work I did for another local church, Mosaic Church in Winter Garden, FL. CATC has a campus with several buildings. Their main Sunday Worship services currently happen in their Worship Center, which also functions as their high school Auditorium throughout the week. So the design needed to be functional for both the school and the church. Prior to hiring me, their lobby was a great blank slate, with quality flooring, lots of natural light, high ceilings, and a great layout. But it was pretty stark and empty with very little color, design, furniture or branding to help the space tell their story and welcome their connection.
The leadership at CATC reached out to me to help transform their lobby space after one of their staff members referred them to me because of the Spatial Branding work I did for another local church, Mosaic Church in Winter Garden, FL. CATC has a campus with several buildings. Their main Sunday Worship services currently happen in their Worship Center, which also functions as their high school Auditorium throughout the week. So the design needed to be functional for both the school and the church. Prior to hiring me, their lobby was a great blank slate, with quality flooring, lots of natural light, high ceilings, and a great layout. But it was pretty stark and empty with very little color, design, furniture or branding to help the space tell their story and welcome their connection.
THE PROCESS
The initial step of this project was a discovery session and site visit, where we discussed their DNA as a church, the brand story they aim to tell, and the current pain points of their lobby. After that, I developed a Mood Board and Sketches of some unique ideas for their lobby, which the client was able to collaborate on with their feedback, thoughts and questions. The initial steps were focussed on the guest experience and dreaming up a lobby that's full of their personality, where first-time guests feel instantly at home. This is accomplished through clear wayfinding, bold branding, walls that tell a story, and creating spaces that encourage community.
THE GOALS
CATC's unique DNA, and the specific conditions of their current lobby space shaped the design goals for this space. I collaborated with CATC to develop the following goals that would serve as a guidepost for the entire project.
1. Bring personality to the space with color, texture, biophilic elements, & graphics, highlighting their character as a thriving, diverse community, centered on the cross and on-mission together.
2. Tell their story, share their vision & energize people for mission.
3. Define the space allowing for a more welcoming environment for grabbing coffee, gathering information, and sitting for a chat.
4. A more permanent & functional welcome desk area.
5. Clearer wayfinding for first-time visitors.
6. Natural areas for temporary installations for events occurring in the life of the church like Easter and Mission Sunday.
7. A color and materials palette that feels primarily on-brand with the church, but not in a way that excludes the school.
1. Bring personality to the space with color, texture, biophilic elements, & graphics, highlighting their character as a thriving, diverse community, centered on the cross and on-mission together.
2. Tell their story, share their vision & energize people for mission.
3. Define the space allowing for a more welcoming environment for grabbing coffee, gathering information, and sitting for a chat.
4. A more permanent & functional welcome desk area.
5. Clearer wayfinding for first-time visitors.
6. Natural areas for temporary installations for events occurring in the life of the church like Easter and Mission Sunday.
7. A color and materials palette that feels primarily on-brand with the church, but not in a way that excludes the school.
EARLY CONCEPTUAL RENDERING 1
EARLY CONCEPTUAL RENDERING 2
EARLY CONCEPTUAL RENDERING 3
THE FINAL DESIGN
The Final Spatial Design of the CATC lobby includes a bold and on-brand feature wall, a beautiful café counter, inviting seating areas, a CFCA info wall for school, CATC info wall for the church, and an exterior transformation. The space comes to life with globally influenced patterns and fixtures, biophilic textures of wood and greenery, and a clearer flow created by built-in counters and beautiful wayfinding signage. The simple yet flexible info walls offer a ton of functionality and versatility for the church and the school. The bold and symmetrical feature wall includes a large wood cross with radiating lines, communicating that we're going out on mission in our individual spheres of influence. This space will offer guests a clear and authentic picture of the life and DNA of this church body.
The leaders at CATC are extremely excited to have a cohesive and on-brand design to begin implementing in phases throughout the summer. They are inspired by the potential of the space to help communicate their vision and be a tool for evangelism. The space is unique and bold, making it very photogenic for sharable pictures people will take with friends and family. It's also inviting and clearly defined, helping a first-time visitor to feel more and more at home as they make their way to their seat.
The reality is, churches have the opportunity to preach the gospel well before the church service begins. Gospel experiences can happen in the parking lot, with a welcoming smile, through amenities in the restrooms, and through the way a space makes a person feel. Spatial Branding for church lobbies is a powerful way to help people feel expected, seen, loved, and valued.
The leaders at CATC are extremely excited to have a cohesive and on-brand design to begin implementing in phases throughout the summer. They are inspired by the potential of the space to help communicate their vision and be a tool for evangelism. The space is unique and bold, making it very photogenic for sharable pictures people will take with friends and family. It's also inviting and clearly defined, helping a first-time visitor to feel more and more at home as they make their way to their seat.
The reality is, churches have the opportunity to preach the gospel well before the church service begins. Gospel experiences can happen in the parking lot, with a welcoming smile, through amenities in the restrooms, and through the way a space makes a person feel. Spatial Branding for church lobbies is a powerful way to help people feel expected, seen, loved, and valued.
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