Case Study

This case study was a team project that researched assigned places of worship. The research included the architect, structure, mechanical, lighting and electricity, plumbing and life safety of the church.

Kings Way Methodist Church

Architect and Church

The Kings Way church was built in Springfield, MO in
1954. The church was designed by architect Richard P. Stahl, who also designed buildings around Springfield, such as Bay Hall, the current administration building on the Drury University campus. The church is still used today and has even added on classroom and administration additions to the church.

 

 

 

 

Structure

The main structural elements of the church include an inverted V frame that supports the roof enclosure. The frame is supported by stacked stone bearing walls. There is a gap between these supports and the exterior walls, creating a gap that is used for public circulation,  HVAC in the ceiling above and beams.

 

 

 

 

 

Mechanical

The HVAC system is comprised of boilers and cooling towers. The air is heated and cooled through temperature adjusted water ran through pipes and then blown out of vents via blowing units.

 

 

 

 

 

Lighting

The sanctuary is lit by can lights that are attached to the structure. The switches that control the lights are located behind the alter. The lights above the organ are controlled on the second floor. Natural light is also brought into the space through small windows located along the aisles on the sides of the sanctuary. These windows diffuse the light that enters the space. There are also 2 large triangular-shaped windows on each end of the sanctuary (one behind the alter and the other behind the organ). The light creates a glow into the space as they are blocked by the alter wall and organ pipes.

 

 

 

Plumbing

The plumbing is a simple set up that contains a water heater and pipes that run to the
bathrooms in the administration corridor and to the vents for heating and cooling. The water heater is located in a room behind the alter. The plumbing for the bathrooms are set underground and the HVAC is set as a hydronic system.

Life Safety

The church has a very simple layout for egress, with Egress routes toward each corner of the church, 2 per side as well as a main central axis path towards the Narthex. There is some issues however, with possible congestion in the termination ends of the egress paths and door swing directions. Congestion is likely to appear in the Narthex of the church where there is both the 3 paths from the Sanctuary as well as 2 additional egress paths from the choir loft. Another area prone to congestion is the Southwest exit from the Sanctuary, where there are paths from both the Sanctuary as well as the Administration corridor. The Administration corridor also has a path leading out of doors with the wrong door swing direction. This can result in either slower egress from the church or even death and injury from the possibility of collision into the door from being pushed and slammed due to crowds of people rushing towards the exit. These congestion areas could be detrimental in the event of a fire or other catastrophe resulting in the mass removal of people from the church.