FIRST UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
Denton, Texas
Status: Design Development
Completion Date for Phase One: March 2005
PROGRAM: First United Methodist Church, founded in 1857, is located in the Central Business District of Denton, Texas - just one block from the courthouse square. The 4.4 acre site currently houses a sanctuary and related functions totaling over 95,000 square feet. A growing congregation of over 2,800 members, vibrant ministries, expanded missions, and the desire to reach out to young families, has created the need to add additional space while examining the current site layout for long term growth opportunities. The goal of this program is to create a new Master Plan to enable the Church to expand on a limited urban site.
CITY OF DENTON PLANS: Planning is currently underway to promote and create a more pedestrian friendly downtown Denton. The means to this end include economic stimuli to encourage more retail and cultural facilities downtown; narrowing streets to slow automobile traffic and create wider sidewalks with street trees; allowing balconies to project out beyond property lines along sidewalks to intensify street activities. A future hotel district is envisioned to the south of the property thus positioning First United Methodist Church in an ideal milieu for new ministries.
JOHN WESLEY: First United Methodist Church's location and ministry in a revitalized urban core cuts to the heart of the Methodist tradition. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, was one of the greatest evangelists in the history of the Christian Church. The Sunday School image of Wesley had him on horseback riding furiously from town to town preaching the gospel, quieting riots, and building churches. In this tradition, First United Methodist Church is obliged to engage the City of Denton - to reach out with its ministries and its architecture - to speak to the spiritual needs of the community.
SANCTUARY: The point of departure for the Master Plan is the existing sanctuary. Well suited for the growth of the Church for the next ten years, the existing sanctuary is constructed in the Neo-Classical architectural style. As illustrated below, the overall form and massing is very similar to Sir Christopher Wren's early design for Saint Paul's Cathedral in London. Unlike Saint Paul's, First United Methodist has no domes or towers that differentiate the overall massing from that of more mundane institutional structures (government buildings, post offices, etc.). Instead of twin towers (like St. Paul's), a Wren-like steeple is proposed to be constructed over the center of the narthex to mark the entrance to the sanctuary and make First United Methodist Church easily recognizable as an archetypal "church" structure to newcomers.
MASTER PLAN: The organization of the Master Plan is based upon the perimeter block typology where the structures are organized along the perimeter of an urban site leaving the center open for activities. At the center of this site a lush garden is proposed. The perimeter block organizes development from Locust Street east just past the center of the property. Further east, on axis from the center of Locust Street, space is reserved for a set piece that consists of a future 6,000+ seat sanctuary in the center of the site or other future development. On site parking shall provide for 175 cars at the east end of the property. The first phase of development is described below.
PHASE ONE PLAN: The first phase of development shall consist of 33,000 square foot addition to the east of the sanctuary to be known as the East Wing. The first floor shall contain a new, expanded nursery and preschool classrooms. The second floor shall contain two adult classrooms and the children's rotational classrooms. The third floor shall contain state of the art choir rehearsal facilities and multi-function classrooms. Miller Center shall be expanded to include the new library and remodeled kitchen.
East Elevation of the East Wing showing proposed steeple in the background.
PHASE TWO PLAN: The second phase of development shall be the beginning of the implementation of the Master Plan. To resolve access to the sanctuary, proximity of the nursery and preschool to the sanctuary, and general site orientation to a 100,000 square feet facility, critical sanctuary support facilities are located along Locust Street on axis (centered) with the narthex. A great atrium space is proposed over a new curb cut in the center of the property from Locust Street. This allows covered drop-off directly adjacent to the entrance of the sanctuary. Valet service is proposed for the elderly and handicapped. A small lobby provides elevator service up to the main floor (First Floor level) - the sanctuary level. One then enters a great atrium - to the left one can see the University of North Texas, to the right, one sees the sun rising from the east, straight ahead is the narthex - and looking up - one sees through the skylight to the gold leaf cross at the top of the steeple. This new entrance sequence is designed to enhance and reinforce the existing entrance to the sanctuary - up the great steps, up and off the street - to the sanctuary. The new covered entrance is also designed to reinforce, not upstage, the existing front of the sanctuary. There will now be a new bride's room with generous restrooms - directly adjacent to the narthex. A catering kitchen is proposed to be located just off the atrium for receptions and seated dinners for up to 400 people. Further south will be the new library - at least twice the size of the existing library. Adult classrooms are also planned on this level. For senior citizens, all activity is on one level. From the opposite end of the sanctuary is the new Flinn Hall. This room will be approximately the same size as the existing, except that it will be more convenient, with better acoustics, and more functional for a wider range of activities.
At the south corner is Cole Chapel. For the first time, Cole Chapel will have a front facade and an at-grade access for weddings and funerals. The interior will be identical to the existing chapel. The chapel rear will have direct secured access to the children's classrooms.
The Second Level, above the main level, will house the administrative offices. The administrative reception area will be directly visible from the Atrium on the First Level. The pastoral suite is also on this level, but across the Atrium in a more private location. Although private, the views will be spectacular encompassing the facade of the sanctuary, the steeple, the Denton County Courthouse, and the University of North Texas - an awe inspiring combination sure to welcome and inspire, to comfort and reassure. Restrooms will also be provided adjacent to the balcony areas in the sanctuary.
Monroe Center will also be renovated in Phase One to become a Youth Center.
Approximately 33,000 square feet of additional space will be added in the Phase One Plan to the existing 95,000 square feet of facilities.
Proposed Master Plan conceptual elevation along Locust Street illustrating (from left to right) the new steeple on the existing sanctuary, new ground floor nursery, covered drop-off with glass great hall above, children's classrooms at grade with library and offices above. At the south corner, Cole Chapel with large meeting rooms above.
First United Methodist Church
Early Model by Sir Christopher Wren for Saint Paul's Cathedral in London, England
Trafalgar Square in London, England with Saint Martins-in-the-Fields at the top center. The addition of the steeple brought the presence of the Church into the public square. The proposed steeple for First United Methodist Church will create a similar effect to the courthouse square in Denton, Texas. At the same time, the steeple (175 feet high) will enable First Methodist Church to be visible from Interstate Highway 35E.
First United Methodist Church Members - Please click here to go the Frequently Asked Questions Page (UPDATED!)
WARNING: The model and images you see are conceptual and represent architectural ideas. The architectural design is currently being developed. There are no definitive floor plans at this time. They will be developed from the building program. The final architectural design for First United Methodist Church may or may not resemble the images you are viewing.
Updated August 8, 2003
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