DISCIPLE: ATSR Combines Aethestics, Input to Design Our Future

From the Fall 2022 issue of DISCIPLE, a quarterly newsletter of St. Michael Catholic Church.

Before a dollar was raised or a scoop of earth turned for our current building project, ATSR was on the job. The Golden Valley-based architecture, engineering, and planning firm specializes in educational and ecclesiastical projects, so they were the perfect partners for former pastor Father Peter Richards to bring on board to develop a facilities master plan for our parish and school. That means ATSR President Dean Beeninga and architect Peter Lacey have helped to design and build our BOLD FUTUREexpansion from the ground up.

Firm Foundation

The master planning and design processes, which began in early 2019, were extensive. 

“The original planning group, along with the parish community, church program groups, school staff, and students, helped shape the aspirations to guide us through this journey,” says Beeninga. “It took approximately 10 formal meetings with the planning group and another 10 with other parish audiences to gather input and form the direction.”

Once the master plan was developed, the parish began to formulate a capital campaign to support this new vision. A building committee was formed, including parishioners with expertise in construction, facilities management, logistics, and development, as well as firsthand knowledge of the needs of our church and school.

“We had so much fun with both groups with all the meetings it takes to create a meaningful result,” Beeninga recalls. “We had approximately 20 formal meetings with the building committee and another approximately 30 meetings with stakeholders in the church and school. This was my first design completely online with a group [due to COVID restrictions]. You grow close—both committees gave so much time, and I think they did a fabulous job.”

Beeninga and Lacey worked together on the design for the expansion, using Byzantine influences from the church—shapes, lines, and colors—and incorporating more openness and natural light to create a warm and welcoming social hall and meeting spaces.

“We like to hear from many voices during the design process—we believe that it results in a better project and one that has stronger support,” Lacey says. “A key part of this process is establishing the guiding principles that are used throughout the project to check if the design is heading in the right direction. We were brought back later in 2020 to develop a phase-one construction project. During this process, the programmatic needs were confirmed, and a more detailed layout and estimate was developed. Materials and systems were selected with guidance from the building committee, and 3D computer walk-throughs and renderings were used to communicate the look and feel of the exterior and interior spaces. Also at this stage, Mortenson began adding their expertise and knowledge of construction and building costs.”

“I always say, ‘We are just your pencil—what do you think it should be?’” says Beeninga. “We try to supply the group with ideas that have meaning and appeal, but design is a very collaborative experience if you let it be.”

Beautiful By Design

You might think that, once the plans are in place and construction starts, the architect’s work is finished, but that’s not the case. ATSR is involved every step of the way, ensuring that the design principles and overall vision are carried out in big and small ways. Lacey, in particular, is a fixture in the Mortenson trailer every week, consulting on design tweaks and details, fixtures, finishes, and more. 

The result? A new addition that will be as beautiful as it is functional.

“During weekly meetings with St. Michael staff and Mortenson, progress is discussed, and work is checked against the construction documents,” Lacey says. “Questions and further information that is needed during the construction are addressed. The subcontractors provide their drawings and product data, which we review and approve or revise as needed.”

“Faith-based projects are my particular focus,” he says. “I enjoy the process of understanding a community’s needs and developing solutions that can aid in their worship and life together. With Catholic and Orthodox churches, there is a rich history of design that can be drawn from—and particularly here at St Michael, where domed Byzantine churches are a strong influence on the form and iconic decor. It is also rewarding to produce images and videos that can help communicate the aspirations of a project to the community, helping them to catch the vision!”

Beeninga agrees that working on church projects is special.

“A project grows with the entire group building it along the way,” he says. “The design comes from many different sources. I claim I get visions from God—and maybe I do! But you have such a wonderful community, and I feel blessed to have been welcomed into that love you all share with so many. I hope the spaces we created serve your needs for generations to come.”