The project of Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Fla., began in 2009 with Birmingham, Ala., Live Design Group’s (LDG’s) signature “Live” sessions. All players met together to establish goals for the facility and how they might be reached. “There was creativity and synergy in that process,” says Alex Castro, design and project director with Celebration. “The Lord knitted us together in like-mindedness to come to this end result.”During the five-day series of initial Live sessions, as well as subsequent meetings, the team that included Castro and LDG lead architect, Craig Krawczyk, Celebration’s Senior Pastor Stovall Weems, a general contractor, and Paul Henderson of Wave, a creative integration group from Charlotte, N.C., collaborated constantly and purposefully—if not in person, then via phone.
"All of the theming and signage is digital or projected…. Typically, we try to add color with materials like paint, carpet, and other textiles—here it is accomplished entirely by lighting.”
—AUBREY GARRISON Principal, Live Design Group, Birmingham, AL.
“[It was] an exchange and development of ideas, back and forth, to the point where we no longer recognized who threw what into the mix,” says Krawczyk. “This process allowed everyone to put themselves aside and work together to produce the best design solutions.”The early, highly collaborative interaction assisted Celebration Church in obtaining a facility that very intentionally conveys its personality, says Aubrey Garrison, LDG principal.
Manifestation of vision
The vision for Celebration as a church body and facility is rooted in the Great Commission found in Matthew 28, and its realization is a building that draws people in and allows them to experience God in an unexpected way.The team’s focus was designing an engaging environment that would build and prepare people to be the church. As the plans for Celebration began to take form, Wave was integrally involved, even in the decision to use tilt-up concrete as the structural system. According to Krawczyk, tilt-up is economical, but doesn’t normally lend itself to flexibility and creativity. In this case, though, it was the literal canvas for one of the most innovative worship facilities in the nation. “Over the lifetime of a church, you develop standards that, after time, are no longer applicable,” says Armando Fullwood, director of Wave. “[This] church was willing to innovate.”
Technology by design
The exterior appears to be painted a bright color, but the concrete is actually a grayish-white. Whatever color it appears to be is actually LED reflection. “It’s an unprecedented design concept that allows the mood and feel of the entire campus to be changed instantly,” says Garrison. In fact, the 77,000-square-foot facility is lit 100% by LED, and this technology, used to “paint” the exterior, is used for far more on the inside. Walking into the main lobby engages all the senses. The use of light and projection creates atmosphere that can change in a matter of minutes and be tailored to any series or event.“Typically, we try to add color with materials like paint, carpet, and other textiles—here it is accomplished entirely by lighting,” says Garrison.Whereas technical artistry is often saved for the worship experience, Celebration is taking advantage of its utility in ingenious ways—like casting light movement onto the polished concrete floor to direct the crowd into the worship space at service time. “We tried to be as playful as possible,” says Krawczyk. From the main lobby, a wide concourse takes off to the left and right, leading to elementary and junior high programming areas. These spaces are standard, with stadium-seating large group space and lounge areas, but one element is very different: all of the theming and signage is digital or projected, as it is throughout the campus.Celebration spent a little more up front on technology, but in return will never pay to change signage or reinvent outdated theming. “It’s the ultimate in flexibility,” says Krawczyk.
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For design insight, check out “Digital Dogma: What Every Church Needs to Know About Digital Signage” by Chuck Walthall, a digital signage veteran, in Designer’s sister publication, Church Production Magazine, Dec. 2013:
