Bellevue First Congressional Church

Bellevue First Congregational Church is an adaptive reuse of an existing 1970’s office building. The 43,000 sf two-story steel frame building was cut open on its NW corner to insert a 6,000 sf 47’ high sanctuary, which consists of 40’ tall CLT folded plates, procured from Structurlam. Washing indi­rect light downwards from northern skylights and full height side windows, the undulating CLT becomes the backdrop for subtle daylight experiences so common to our Northwest light under our grey skies.

The large roof volume sits on a base of new fiber-cement siding that wraps the north and west facades and creates a new glass storefront entry at the existing building entry.  A bell tower at the street edge of the site is scaled to announce the new use to the vehicular-oriented context, bicycles and pedestrian visitors. 

The project was designed between 2013 and 2015, and completed construction in Spring 2016.