New Facilities Award
GFFdesign
Plano, Texas
The stand-alone chapel on St. Andrew Methodist Church’s 21-acre campus in Plano, Texas, is envisioned as a sanctuary that harmonizes with its stunning natural surroundings. Nestled in the scenic northwestern corner, the chapel overlooks a tranquil creek and pond, creating a serene backdrop that invites reflection and worship.
The 300-seat chapel is designed to foster intimacy and community and serves as a sacred space for weddings, funerals, worship services, and small conferences. It stands as a testament to Rev. Robert Hasley, the founding pastor, his legacy, and his ministry. Conceptualized as “a chapel in the woods,” the seating faces a dramatic view of the creek and pond, echoing the calm of Robert’s cherished home in Arkansas. The simple floor plan guides people in a procession from the glass entrance on the south, through the narthex, into the chapel, and to the view beyond, where nature and architecture converge.
Crafted from natural materials like wood and stone, the chapel embodies warmth and invitation, seamlessly blurring the boundaries between the outdoors and the sacred interior.
Jury Comments
This is a great project. The large windows bring the outside in, helping to push the sacred space out into the landscape. There is a quality of it nesting in the trees, with a stone wall that anchors it.
Project Team Members
Loren Boynton
Emily Mendez
Michael Lehr
Jacquelyn Block
Stephen Pickard
Don Kubala
Lena Starostine
Becca Vahldick
Morgan Harrison
Lance Braht
Project Consultants
Project Advocates
Spiars Engineering Civil
Leeming Design Group
Kevin Clarke Landscape
RLG Consulting Engineers
Summit Consultants, Inc.
Clear Pro Av. Inc.
Acoustic Design Associates, Inc.
Photo Credit / Chad Davis
