Columbia Baptist Church

Project Type: Ecclesiastic
Location: Falls Church, VA
Gross Floor Area: 27,000 SF
Budget: $20,000,000

Columbia Baptist Church's campus in Falls Church, Virginia presented a familiar but demanding challenge: how do you grow a thriving congregation's home without interrupting the community life that fills it every week? Our team answered that question through a comprehensive master plan and phased expansion that transformed the church's full city block into a cohesive, forward-looking campus — all while keeping doors open throughout construction.

A 125-foot steeple crowns the campus, grounding the building in its spiritual purpose and establishing a lasting landmark along the Falls Church skyline.

A Vision Built Around Community

At the heart of the project is a new 1,150-seat sanctuary designed to serve the congregation for generations to come. Rather than simply adding square footage, we focused on creating meaningful connections between spaces — an expansive gathering foyer draws people together naturally before and after worship, while complementary classroom facilities support the full breadth of church programming.

Phased Delivery, Zero Downtime

Careful sequencing was central to our approach. The project began with site infrastructure improvements — relocated utilities and expanded parking — laying the groundwork for new construction without disrupting Sunday services or weekday ministries. This disciplined phasing ensured that the congregation never had to choose between growth and continuity.

Breathing New Life into Existing Space

Once the new sanctuary was complete, the original worship space found a thoughtful second life. We converted it into an intimate chapel, providing a quieter venue for smaller gatherings and personal reflection. The former balcony and under-chapel areas were reimagined as dedicated children's classrooms, and a wide connecting corridor now links the entire campus — including seamless pedestrian access to additional parking across the street.