As the Spiritual Renewal Center had experienced increased usage Heimsath Architects was commissioned to develop a comprehensive Master Plan for the 300 acre site and existing log-framed wood buildings.
One of the first priorities of the Master Plan was the placement of a new meeting and dining space to accommodate a variety of retreat groups. The design had to be sensitive to the intimate feel of the existing Center. By creating a form expressing the individual meeting and gathering spaces, the large building was able to blend in seamlessly.
The new multi-purpose building consists of two separate spaces: a large meeting hall and a dining hall with a commercial kitchen. The two rooms are accessed by a sky-lit foyer. With movable partitions, the two halls can be connected to accommodate a full capacity with seating over 500.
Another priority was to plan for the systematic replacement of nearly all the existing structures. Though the log-framing was only twenty years old, many of the timbers were severely damaged due to termite infestation in the wood. The new hall introduced a vocabulary of new materials, with cementitious siding painted to complement the original timber logs.
