Moving a church is no easy matter. In the case of Fond du Lac, WI’s Immanuel-Trinity Lutheran congregation, the decision to move from their historic church building to a new location on the outskirts of town was an emotional one. The historic old church was a much-loved structure that had been home to generations of churchgoers since 1917. However, a parking shortage and traffic congestion at the downtown location had become increasingly problematic for many members of the congregation. The new building also promised improved handicapped accessibility and easier maintenance. To ease the transition, one of the primary objectives in designing the new church was to create an aesthetically pleasing place of worship that would make the congregation feel at home. County Materials’ concrete masonry products were instrumental in achieving this goal.
The new church was built in phases both for budgetary reasons and to ease the transition to the new location. Phase I included approximately 18,200 sq. ft. of space. It was completed in 2004 and consisted largely of a gymnasium/multi-purpose room. This was used for worship services after the old church building was sold and before the rest of the church was built. A 16,200 sq. ft. extension was added in 2012. This space includes a new sanctuary, along with a library and classrooms.
The congregation wanted to retain some of the character of the old historic German-influenced church building that had been their spiritual home since the early 1900’s. Some of the existing altar furnishings were reused in the new structure. While unmistakably modern, the outside of the building retains a Gothic flavor with its pointed steeple and buttress-like roof treatment.
County Materials’ Heritage Collection™ Designer Concrete Brick afforded a traditional appearance to the exterior cladding of the new church. The primary color option selected was Cardinal blend, a deep red brick which gives the church a warm and welcoming feel. For the trim, a warm, brown-gray Shalestone blend of Heritage Collection concrete brick provides a contrasting yet complementary accent. All together, 40,000 concrete brick units were used between both phases of construction.
In addition to its appearance, Heritage Collection concrete brick was chosen for its affordability and superior durability. The multi-purpose room constructed during Phase I utilizes single wythe masonry construction. The concrete units provide a highly durable, aesthetically pleasing appearance for both interior and exterior surfaces.
The final phase of the project commenced in April of 2013, and was completed in late December of 2013. Most members of the congregation agree that the new church building is beautiful and better suits the needs of churchgoers.