Entry number: B06002
Project Name: Holy Cross Catholic Community Church
Building Type: Religious
Completion Date: December 2002
Architect: SVWB Architects (Sheehan Van Woert Biggotti)

Design team:
Structural engineer: Forbes & Dunagan
Electrical engineer: PK Electric (Aentec)
Civil engineer: FPE
General contractor: Reno Construction
Photographer: Vance Fox Photography



Design approach/Narrative: The design was inspired by the spiritual nature of the church, the sloping site, and spectacular views to the Spanish Springs valley, foothills, and the Sierra Mountains.

A modern tectonic of lightweight structural metal decks, concrete masonry, industrial glazing and engineered trusses accommodates many uses. The parti, an eventual bow-tie scheme, was selected as the organizing solution that considers the parish’s anticipation of adding a fixed seat worship area in 15-20 years. The Small chapel space is required in the short and long term, and therefore it is placed at the knot of the bow-tie scheme and acts as an organizing element for the other spaces and the future expansion to the south. The worship space, facing the views to the west, is articulated with structural repetitive fins to address the sweeping west sun and gives the west façade a deeply faceted play of shade and show which offers a striking evening show of structure and light

Material in ASL Library: Form Core Boards, Project Description Form, Exteriors Photos, Location Map, Site Plan, Floor Plan, and Interior Photos