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Project Name
The Sanctuary at Destiny
Firm:
Awards Category
Unbuilt Architecture
Project Summary
Destiny Christian Center’s (DCC) vision is to “equip the saints for the work of ministry” through worship, teaching, and community engagement. Having inherited a church campus built by a previous congregation, DCC now seeks to create a sanctuary addition that embodies its spirit and growing fellowship. The new design cultivates the worship experience by embracing openness, light, and connection to nature. Responding to the desert environment, the addition integrates sustainable strategies that explore natural illumination, thermal comfort, and resource stewardship. Acoustical and visual performance enhancements ensure clarity, immersion, and inclusivity within the sanctuary.
Expressions of form and materiality deepen the project’s symbolic meaning. Three curved walls—representing the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)—shield the sanctuary from prevailing winds while gently cradling the arrival procession toward the main entry. The self-cleaning limestone cladding cleans itself with rainwater, symbolizing baptism and renewal by the washing away of Sin.
In addition to serving as a sacred worshiping space, the project extends DCC’s mission outward, inviting the community into shared moments of reflection, celebration, and unity—a contemporary expression of faith grounded in spirit, purpose, and connection.
Project Narrative
The Destiny Christian Center (DCC) sanctuary addition is envisioned as a vessel for worship, community, and spirit. Respecting the church’s architectural history, the new addition responds to the evolving needs of a growing congregation. A thorough investigation of the existing facility’s history, circulation patterns, environment, and programmatic requirements guided the design.
The existing Church’s geometry—affectionately known as the “Starship Enterprise”—presented challenges and constraints. Its deep four-foot eaves required a stepped-connection strategy to preserve the existing roof's structure and profile while achieving the desired volume and ceiling heights in the addition. Demolition of the existing partition closets and select exterior walls of the old sanctuary enables the addition to be connected while maintaining most of the existing sanctuary for reuse. The existing Church's structure and rooms were to be maintained, and existing public restrooms were to be utilized.
The new sanctuary doubles the overall seating capacity of the congregation in a hybrid fan-shaped seating configuration with dual side aisles. This configuration maintains the intimacy of the Church Service; the farthest Worshiper remains within 25% of the original sanctuary’s seating distance to the Pastor. Acoustical performance is improved in the new sanctuary with acoustical wall and ceiling configurations and materials that reflect and absorb sound.
A core aspect of the design is flexibility. The repurposed existing sanctuary becomes a multipurpose fellowship hall, functioning independently or in conjunction with the new sanctuary, with operable partitions. When partitions are open during regular Church Service, the multipurpose space acts as an expanded narthex and lobby area; when closed, it transforms into a reception or event venue. This flexibility accommodates DCC’s growth and changing program.
The addition’s form draws from Christian symbolism. The tri-curved entry wall symbolizes the Holy Trinity, while the self-cleaning limestone facade of the tri-curved wall sheds the desert dust with rainfall—symbolic of renewal and cleansing in Baptism. The resulting architectural compositions establish a renewed architectural identity for the congregation.
DDC recognizes light as a sacred medium and symbol in Christianity. The design is a hybrid between traditional Churches' expansive stained glass luminosity and contemporary dark-box Churches' lighting and visual production. Indirect light enters through saw tooth clerestories and indirect glazing, modulated by operable shades to support various church service and production needs.
The symbolic design gestures collectively reinforce a stewardship that harmonizes faith and environment. More than an addition, the new sanctuary addition expresses reverence and spirit through architecture, light, and community.
Sustainable Design & Materials
The addition minimizes building heat gain through shaded fenestration, overhangs, and saw-tooth clerestory windows, protecting interior spaces from the harsh Nevada sun. The sweeping tri-curved entry wall shields from the most severe winds. Passive design strategies reduce cooling demand, while photovoltaic panels generate renewable energy and shade parked cars.
Accented accoya acetylated wood on the street facade adjacent to the Trinity Garden provides warmth and durability in the desert climate while connecting to the interior wood of the new sanctuary. Bronze storefront frames and copper metal cladding evoke timelessness, developing a natural patina that deepens with age.
In the Trinity Garden, the outdoor baptismal pool and prayer/meditation nodes reinforce the connection between faith and nature. The landscape is an area of spiritual and environmental restoration. The xeriscape landscape of the Trinity Garden captures rainwater from the roof and parking lot, which flows through bioswales to filter and facilitate stormwater infiltration. Three converging paths symbolize the Trinity and lead to the outdoor baptistry, with tiered viewing areas that allow viewing of the baptismal ceremony, symbolically linking outdoor baptisms to the original baptisms in the Jordan River.
Project Stats
Square Feet
12500
Green Building Designation(s)
Date of Completion
Project Location
6210 W Cheyenne Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89108, USA
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