New Horizon
Presbyterian
Church

Client
New Horizon Presbyterian Church
Location
Council Bluffs, IA
Completion date
January 2008

Completed in 2008, the consolidation of two congregations becomes a vision for inspiration and expansiveness. Located at the edge of rural fields of the Loess Hills region in Council Bluffs, Iowa is a church reflective of the tenacious nature of its members and their stewardship of its legacy.

The genesis for the new church space is found in abundant use of light, openness and the joining of two spatial forms reflecting the sister congregations who have come together in their new home. The overall form is one of asymmetry and point/counterpoint rather than the oft-employed symmetry of previous structures of this building type; a nod to the new horizon. Entrance to the church is gained by passing through an exterior wall stripped to its structural components, and into a shallow gathering hall defined by transparent walls front and back and by nostalgic elements of saved stained glass windows to left and right.The worship space is a continuation of the entrance hall with exposed structural elements and light diffused by overhangs, orientation and overlapping of planes within the space. The space is visually refreshing and acoustically rewarding. 

Exterior of New Horizon Presbyterian Church.
Detail of exterior of New Horizon Presbyterian Church.
Detail of interior gathering space at New Horizon Presbyterian Church.
Detail of interior worship space at New Horizon Presbyterian Church.
Exterior of New Horizon Presbyterian Church.
Interior worship space at New Horizon Presbyterian Church.