Atlanta's ChristChurch Presbyterian plans to build new home at 1740 Peachtree Road in south Buckhead

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Atlanta’s ChristChurch Presbyterian will soon break ground on adramatic new sanctuary at 1740 Peachtree Road in south Buckhead, with amodern design that will incorporate much of the site’s existing three storyoffice building and complement its urban setting.. 

Four years ago, the congregation purchased a three-story officebuilding at the corner of Peachtree and 25^th Streets, just a few blocks from itscurrent location at 81 Peachtree Park Dr. N.E. Church members agreed theywanted to incorporate as much of the existing building as possible into a newfacility, rather than destroy it.

Architectural rendering of proposed new Atlanta ChristChurch
Presbyterian facility to be built at 1740 Peachtree Road in Buckhead.

 “Our congregation is committed to serving both ourneighborhood and the city of Atlanta through welcome, outreach and worship,”said Rev. Dr. Paul Gardner, the senior pastor.  
“We are outgrowing our current facility and cannot adequatelyexpand our congregation and reach our city without additional space where wecan worship and meet together, invite people to join us and provide gatheringspaces for youth, classes, meals, counseling and ministry work,” he added.
Gertler & Wente Architects, LLP (www.gwarch.com), a New York City-based architecture firm,is serving as lead designer and Architect of Record, and Atlanta-based Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh& Associates (TSW, www.tsw-design.com) isthe Local Architect.
 “We researched and interviewed a number of architecturefirms,” said Carter Reames, chairman of ChristChurch’s buildingcommittee.  “We were familiar with Gertler & Wente through theirinnovative repurposing of a 1913 Manhattan parking garage into a spectacularnew church for Redeemer Presbyterian Church.  We believed they could bringfresh and exciting ideas to Atlanta to transform our vision for a new sanctuaryinto a beautiful design.”
The two architecture firms collaborated on a design that expandsthe existing building on its south side and elevates the roof and windows abovea 925-seat sanctuary.  Seating inside the sanctuary will be accomplishedthrough stackable chairs, rather than permanent pews, making the room flexiblefor other uses apart from worship services. 

The present Atlanta ChristChurch Presbyterian facility located at
81 Peachtree Park Drive N.E. in  south Buckhead.

The Peachtree Street side of the building will feature a subtletower with three crosses facing north, south and east.  An invitingcourtyard will help transition visitors from the busy city streetscape to themore contemplative areas of the building.
 “As New Urbanists, we like to push buildings out to thesidewalk to encourage interaction and pedestrian traffic – goals shared byChristChurch,” said Jerry Spangler, AIA, LEED AP, and founding principal ofTSW.
“The new church will feature a coffee shop facing PeachtreeStreet and an art gallery on the building’s south side,” explained Spangler. “Thecontextual modern design will help the structure blend in with its neighbors,and we will use steel and glass in the construction as well as more traditionalchurch building materials like brick and stone.  The exterior will be cladin a large-scale porcelain panel along with the brick, glass and steel. Passers-by will know it’s a church, but they might have to take a second lookto be sure,” he said.
 In addition to the sanctuary, art gallery and coffee shop,the new building will house church offices, classrooms, work areas and meetingspace.  Construction documents are being prepared with a goal of breakingground in early June.  The construction is expected to take about 18months.
“You won’t see traditional closed wooden doors on this church,”said Dr. Gardner.  “The open design and generous use of glass windows anddoors will allow passers-by to look into our facility, where we’ll haveactivities going on every day of the week.  “We also plan for our coffee shop to become a neighborhood gatheringspot, and we’ll hold frequent art exhibits in the new gallery,” Dr. Gardneradded. “We want to create a spirit of excitement and invitation soeveryone will feel welcome to come in and join us.”
For more information about Atlanta’s ChristChurch Presbyterian,go to www.christchurchatlanta.org.