Vanman Project Profiles: Religous
Building for ministry.
Building for ministry has been the core of our firm since we began in 1957. The work we do includes new, additions to existing, and revitalization of existing buildings. Our goal is to make beautiful spaces while we design a building that serves your unique ministry and your congregation in practical ways.
We believe programming and visioning is where successful church planning begins. Ministry goals come first when our experienced team of architects works with your building committee to develop design concepts for your facility.
Don't miss our 13th Annual Building For Ministry Seminar Coming in Spring 2010!
1st Lutheran Church - Saulk Centre, MN
Annandale Evangelical Free Church, Annandale Minnesota
Adding a 600 seat worship space to a quaint, country church without dominating the overall appearance presented a unique design challenge. By bending the addition off the axis of the existing building and preserving existing trees, this 29,000 square foot addition gives the church the space they need without overshadowing their original, iconic structure.
Atonement Lutheran Church - Muskego, Wisconsin
Calvin Presbyterian Church - Long Lake, Minnesota
The 7,200 square foot fellowship and entry addition to Calvin Presbyterian Church provides a spacious and modern fellowship hall with floor to ceiling windows which bring natural light and the wooded surroundings inside. The entry was also expanded and remodeled to improve access and circulation.
Central Lutheran Church - Elk River, Minnesota
After building the worship space for Central Lutheran in the 1980's, the church returned to Vanman Architects and Builders to add a new Family Life Center, along with kitchen, nursery, offices and a redesigned narthex and entrance area. The Family Life Center, which includes a handsome wall of windows, is designed for multiple functions, from athletics to dinners and concerts.
Community United Methodist Church - Monticello, Minnesota
Located on a prominent site on a hill overlooking Monticello, Minnesota, this 17,500 square foot church was designed with eye-level windows in the worship and a lantern steeple, which glows at night, so that the congregation can both see and be seen by the community they serve.
Coon Rapids Evangelical Free Church - Coon Rapids, Minnesota
For this fast-growing suburban church, Vanman created a 28,500 square foot facility, including a multi-use worship/fellowship/recreation space and two floors of classrooms and meeting rooms, using pre-cast concrete wall panels and a handsome laminated timber roof structure.
Cross Lake Presbyterian Church - Cross Lake, Minnesota
This 5,700 square foot first-phase church is designed to reflect the rustic surroundings of Central Minnesota's Brainerd Lakes Area. Not only does the rugged log and stone exterior pay homage to its environment, but the geothermal heating system helps protect it as well.
Emmanuel Christian Center - Spring Lake Park, Minnesota
This impressive campus includes a 44,000 square foot worship space which was built by Vanman in two separate phases. The sanctuary can accommodate over 2200 worshippers.
First Congregational United Church of Christ - Mankato, Minnesota
Reflecting both the horizontal influence of the Prairie Style and the dramatic verticality of the surrounding hills, this 12,500 square foot church, featuring timber trusses and an eye-catching cupola, is designed to be multi-functional for church, social outreach and community use. Separate entrances were provided to allow various users to access separately secured areas of the building.
Friendship Church - Shakopee, Minnesota
An ambitious first phase church, this 44,000 square foot facility features a soaring, sky-lit, two-level entrance commons, a multi-use room that accommodates 1,000 people, as well as meeting rooms, offices and 20 classrooms.
Immaculate Conception Church - Pine City, Minnesota
For Immaculate Conception Church, Vanman designed a link between the historic, Gothic style church and St. Mary's school. Providing an elevator, a spacious gathering area, new toilets, offices and meeting rooms, this 8,100 square foot addition is the first phase of a master plan, including a future fellowship hall that will continue to reflect the Gothic style of the original church.
Lord of Life Lutheran Church - Ramsey, Minnesota
This large site has been master planned by Vanman Architects and Builders since the church relocated to this prominent corner in Ramsey in the 1990's. The most recent 44,500 square foot addition includes a triple gymnasium, complete with a performance-ready stage, as well as youth rooms and a remodeled “atrium” commons at the heart of the campus.
Lutheran Church of Our Savior - Rosemount, Minnesota
This 8,600 square foot family life center addition provides ample and comfortable space for a variety of events, including athletic activities, youth and community gatherings and dinners. The use of pre-cast concrete wall panels helped to save time and cost, while the south-facing arcade and large windows create an open, welcoming image.
Messiah Episcopal Church - Saint Paul, Minnesota
This 8,800 square foot addition to an historic church in Saint Paul's Highland Park neighborhood helped this congregation to further their goals of fellowship and welcome. The three-story addition and remodel includes a new street-level entry with an elevator, a spacious gathering area, and a fun top-floor space for youth activities and liturgy.
Mount Olive Lutheran Church and School - Delano, Minnesota
This 14,000 square foot addition to the existing school building provides a soaring new worship space, fellowship hall, nursery, meeting rooms, offices and additional classroom space for the school. Since the original brick church was replaced, Vanman worked with the church to re-use woodwork and stained glass from the original building in the new addition.
Prairie Lutheran Church - Eden Prairie, Minnesota
This new worship addition includes 17,600 square feet of space on two floors. The main floor houses the new 400-seat sanctuary, nursery, offices and meeting rooms, while the lower floor is home to a day care. The architecture was devised to create a seamless continuity with the existing building and harmonizing with the residential neighborhood surroundings, while rising up dramatically from the hillside to make visible their Christian mission.
Redeemer Lutheran Church - White Bear Lake, Minnesota
This 8,500 square foot addition created a sky-lit gathering/fellowship space out of what once was a seldom-used outdoor courtyard. The expanded sanctuary was transformed from a dark and unfriendly space into a light, open and welcoming place through the introduction of more natural light and lighter colors, and new baptistery provides a welcoming invitation to the sanctuary from the new gathering space.
River Valley Church - Apple Valley, Minnesota
River Valley strives to be relevant to our changing culture, friendly and “outside the ordinary”. Featuring ample space for youth and children's ministries, a coffee shop and fireside lounge, as well as a high-tech, multi-media worship space that seats 1,000, this 32,800 square foot renovation of a former warehouse building achieves that goal in exciting style.
Rosemount United Methodist Church
Saint Andrew Catholic Church - Elk River, Minnesota
This 23,600 square foot church seats over 600 and includes a dramatic altar wall, framed by columns of laminated timbers and washed in natural light from above. A full-immersion baptismal font welcomes worshippers, and an adjacent adoration chapel provides a space for quiet reverence.
Union Congregational United Church of Christ - Elk River, Minnesota
This 7,000 square foot addition to an historic “Carpenter Gothic” church reproduces the traditional detailing of the existing church, while providing modern amenities such as a spacious gathering area, new offices and an elevator.
Zion Lutheran Church - Lake Crystal, Minnesota
This 7,000 square foot addition to classic modern church provides a handsome, large fellowship hall, a new elevator, new offices and a spacious overflow and gathering space which connects to the existing sanctuary through banks of folding glass doors. Great care was taken in remodeling the chancel to be wheelchair accessible, while maintaining the character of the sanctuary.
