The town of Caldwell, Texas isn’t very large. Since I drive through Caldwell any time I’m going to the A&M campus in College Station, I feel I know the town. Like many rural communities there are recognizably distinct areas. You’ll find commercial businesses along the main highways as they intersect near the center of town. There’s a historic courthouse square, with the county courthouse ... Read More
It would be easy to miss the subtle cues from the outside of Northstar Bank in Westlake Hills. I missed them completely. But, the covered portico does seem oversized simply to accommodate banking customers. A glance up at the window would have revealed what looks a lot like stained glass. And the enclosed garden with a stone fountain seems like a great place to be quiet and meditate. Once I ... Read More
I’ve noted in past blogposts my reactions to seeing mega towers built by church congregations that want to be noticed from a very long distance. We like to do big things in Texas! Driving along I-35 north of San Antonio, I’ve been noticing this distinctive structure and always assumed it had something to do with a church. Today, I went to check out the place. I didn’t look at Google Maps for ... Read More
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Southeast Austin was recently vandalized. The perpetrators didn’t get inside or run off with anything, but what they damaged took a heavy toll. The beloved art glass that was designed with the original building had been hit by what looked like bullets from a pellet gun. One panel is shattered, another is cracked beyond repair. We’ve been helping the congregation ... Read More
One of the hottest new dance clubs in Manhattan is based on - guess what? Worship spaces! The Flash Factory is the brainchild of Michael Satsky, an empresario who tops the city’s club scene. He created a 10,000 square foot interior entirely from castoff building elements. Gothem quotes Satsky in an interview months before the opening: “They’re pieces taken from temples, churches, schools—any ... Read More
