Centreville Baptist Church

Project Type: Ecclesiastic
Location: Centreville, VA
Budget: $11M

Sandbar Architecture successfully navigated complex site constraints to expand Centreville Baptist Church's ministry capabilities on their 34-acre campus in Northern Virginia. The church's existing 50,000-square-foot facility, while substantial, could no longer accommodate their growing congregation. Our challenge was to create additional worship and educational space while working around major utility infrastructure, including gas and electrical transmission lines that bisected the property.

Our solution delivered a state-of-the-art contemporary worship center accommodating 1,200 people. The innovative design employs a combination of flat and stepped "stadium-style" seating to create an intimate worship atmosphere despite the room's capacity. A versatile 50-foot-wide platform anchors the space, offering multiple configuration options for various worship styles. The integration of large video screens enhances visibility throughout the space, with one screen ingeniously designed to reveal the baptistery when raised.

The project, completed with a construction cost of $14.8 million, transformed not just worship space but the entire church experience. A welcoming gathering foyer serves as a central hub, seamlessly connecting the main entrance, worship center, and a contemporary coffee lounge and bookstore. The design efficiently utilizes vertical space, with the lower level housing expansive classrooms and a dedicated music ministry suite.

The completed facility serves a diverse congregation spanning five counties and ten ZIP codes, successfully fulfilling the Pastor’s vision for a space that brings together people of "all colors, cultures and ethnicities" into one unified spiritual home. This project exemplifies Sandbar Architecture's ability to overcome significant site challenges while creating transformative spaces that serve both current needs and future growth of dynamic faith communities.

"We clearly know that our choice of your firm was guided by more than our own human wisdom. We are thankful to God for your firm being our partner as we look forward to expanding our ministries and services to our community and neighbors through this project."
— Robert Clontz, Centreville Baptist Church