Saint Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church / By Marlon Blackwell Architect

Springdale, United States
Marlon Blackwell Architect
Post By:Kitticoon Poopong

Photo © Courtesy of Timothy Hursley--At night, St. Nicholas presents a glowing, balanced composition. The architects embedded blue and yellow glass windows and a red cross in the white, western elevation. To further delineate the church, they surrounded it with a skirt of black mulch.

World Architecture Festival 2011 - Category Winner: CIVIC AND COMMUNITY
Saint Nicholas Eastern Orthodox Church is the result of a transformation of an existing metal shop building into a sanctuary and fellowship hall in anticipation of a larger adjacent sanctuary on the same site.

Photo © Courtesy of Timothy Hursley--West elevation at night

Photo © Courtesy of Timothy Hursley--West elevation

The simple original structure is enveloped by a new skin, obscuring and refining the original gabled form. Although a small structure, its bold form makes it visible and recognizable from the interstate (I-540) which passes nearby.

Photo © Courtesy of Timothy Hursley--View from southwest

Photo © Courtesy of Timothy Hursley--Northwest corner

For the interior, the vertical surfaces are considered neutral with limited articulation, but the horizontal surfaces are expressive, revealing priorities and hierarchies.

Photo © Courtesy of Timothy Hursley--Sanctuary

Photo © Courtesy of Timothy Hursley--Sanctuary with doors open to fellowship hall

Photo © Courtesy of Timothy Hursley--An operable wall separates the sanctuary from the fellowship hall.

Photo © Courtesy of Timothy Hursley--Iconostasis 

In the fellowship hall, the original concrete slab and the roof structure of the metal shop building are exposed, revealing the origins of the building. As one passes through the narthex, the ceiling gradually descends above a floor of rift-cut white oak, compressing the visitor before passing under the skylit tower that marks the entry to the sanctuary.

Photo © Courtesy of Timothy Hursley--The narthex provides a quiet, candlelit place for prayers or reflection. A small window into the sanctuary allows visitors to see what’s happening before entering.

Photo © Courtesy of Timothy Hursley--A cross emits a red glow at night because of the painted, skylit steeple. The tower marks the entrance to the sanctuary.

Photo © Courtesy of Timothy Hursley--Interior details

Photo © Courtesy of Timothy Hursley--Tower and chior area

The white oak floor continues into the worship space, while a dome hovers above the parishioners. At the East end, the ceiling is carved away to allow for a 30 foot wide transom of translucent glass which bathes the sanctuary in soft light for Sunday morning services.

Photo © Courtesy of Timothy Hursley--View from northeast

Photo © Courtesy of Timothy Hursley--Satellite to dome conversion diagram

Photo © Courtesy of Timothy Hursley--Seen from Interstate 540 in northwest Arkansas, the church becomes a billboard.

The iconostasis - the screen wall between the sanctuary and the altar area - is the one vertical surface that is articulated in great detail, featuring hand-painted, gilded icons, representative of the separation of heaven and earth. The southern wall of the sanctuary opens to accommodate additional visitors at holiday services.
Description from the Architects:

Photo © Courtesy of Lourie Construction--The architects traded a few cases of beer for a used satellite dish, which they skim-coated in plaster and recessed into the ceiling of the church to create the dome.

Photo © Courtesy of Lourie Construction--The architects traded a few cases of beer for a used satellite dish, which they skim-coated in plaster and recessed into the ceiling of the church to create the dome.

floor plan--drawing © Courtesy of Marlon Blackwell Architect

section AA--drawing © Courtesy of Marlon Blackwell Architect

Section through sanctuary showing dome--drawing © Courtesy of Marlon Blackwell Architect

Section through narthex and tower--drawing © Courtesy of Marlon Blackwell Architect

Building components axonometric--drawing © Courtesy of Marlon Blackwell Architect

Video:Project manager Jonathan Boelkins of Marlon Blackwell's office and Father John Atchison St. Nicholas Eastern Orthodox Church discuss this shed turned place of worship in northwest Arkansas.

Project Data
Project name: Saint Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church
Address: Springdale3171 S 48th St, Springdale, AR, United States
Program: Orthodox Christian Church
Gross square footage: 3,600 sq.ft.
Cost: $405,000
Completion date: December 2009

Award: World Architecture Festival 2011 - Category Winner: CIVIC AND COMMUNITY

The people

Client / Owner / Developer: Saint Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church 

Architects: Marlon Blackwell Architect
Civil Engineer: Bates & Associates, Inc
Environmental Engineer: Lourie Construction LLC
Main Contractor: Lourie Construction LLC
Structural Engineer: Myers Beatty Engineering, Inc
Photographs: © Timothy Hursley, Lourie Construction

The product

Structural system:
Existing steel structure with steel and light gauge framing addition.
Manufacturer of any structural components unique to this project: Ozark Steel

Exterior cladding:
Metal Panels: Metal Sales Manufacturing
Installed by Austin Chatelain and David MacIlyea
Other cladding unique to this project:
HardiePanel smooth (canopy soffits)

Roofing:
Elastomeric: Firestone TPO (addition roof)

Windows:
Metal frame: Custom steel frames by Ozark Steel with aluminum stops by Abrams Glass.

Glazing:
Glass: Colored glass by Vanceva. Clear operable window by Kawneer. Both installed by Abrams Glass.
Skylights: Custom steel frame by Ozark Steel, glazed by Abrams Glass.

Doors:
Entrances: Kawneer aluminum storefront by Abrams Glass.
Special doors: Large operable wall between sanctuary and fellowship hall: custom steel frame by Razorback Iron Works

Interior finishes:
Iconostasis (screen wall in sanctuary): custom steel frame by Razorback Iron Works, icons by church iconographer, custom mounting by Lourie Construction LLC
Cabinet in entry and narthex: Lourie Construction LLC
Solid surfacing: Formica (kitchen and fellowship hall)
Special surfacing: Dome plaster: Lourie Construction LLC
Special interior finishes unique to this project: Narthex and sanctuary floor is rift-cut white oak.

Note>>Location in this map, indicate city/country but not exact address.

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