This $34 million, 250,000 sf addition culminated work in one of the largest church complexes in the country. Barry Parks was selected to assist primary designers Ed Reichert and Harold Calhoun through the master planning process. This included the production of rendered elevational studies and model building. Once the congregation approved the designs, Parks took a primary role in the design of the music rehearsal areas (an adult hall for 450, a children’s space for 150, and orchestra room) and other music support spaces (offices, music storage, robing rooms, etc.). Parks also became responsible for the layout for the education and recreation spaces in the complex. The gymnasium featured a double basketball court; an elevated three-lane jogging track; separate shower rooms for boys, girls, men, and women; coaches offices; weight rooms; four handball/racketball courts; a large aerobics room; an 8-lane bowling alley; and upgraded playing fields. The education building, designed for the future addition of three more stories (now accomplished) included a 4,350 sf school resource center, a church library, a theater, a bookstore, 14 general classrooms, and special classrooms for physics, general science, biology, and chemistry labs, as well as a computer lab.
Barry A. Parks 