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The church exterior seen at night, made of a box rib metal panel and red cross that shines from the top of a tower
ST. NICHOLAS EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH
SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS (2010)
Painted religious artwork adorns the dome
ST. NICHOLAS EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH
SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS (2010)
A view of a white wall and candle-lit hallway with a wood floor and yellow accent wall
ST. NICHOLAS EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH
SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS (2010)
A church service under the dome of the St. Nicholas Eastern Orthodox Church
ST. NICHOLAS EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH
SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS (2010)
A church service under the dome of the St. Nicholas Eastern Orthodox Church
ST. NICHOLAS EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH
SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS (2010)

St. Nicholas Eastern Orthodox Church

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Project Information:

ST. NICHOLAS EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH
Springdale, Arkansas (2010)

The Saint Nicholas Eastern Orthodox Church transformed a generic shop building into a place of worship and fellowship. The existing structure was oriented in opposition to the Eastern axis that typically prevails in an Orthodox Church, so a narrow addition was placed on the western side, allowing the narthex to be folded, ending at the base of the tower. The skylit tower pours red light down into the transition between the narthex and the sanctuary, giving a moment of pause before entering to worship. A narrow cross is supended on the western side of the tower, backlit by the morning sun to become a beacon for arriving parishioners. Once inside the sanctuary, a transom that spans the entire width of the space faces east and bathes the space in soft morning light during Sunday morning services. The exterior skin is a box rib metal panel, common in local industrial buildings, while the interior finishes are kept simple, though handled carefully. Portions of the existing building are still exposed, reminding visitors of the history of the site and the transformation the church has undergone.

 

Project Awards:

2013:
+ AIA National American Institute of Architects Honor Award
+ Faith and Form Honor Award

2012:
+ AIA National Small Projects Award

2011:
+ World Architecture Festival winner in Civic and Community Buildings
+ American Architecture Award
+ Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Award
+ Gulf States Regional AIA Design Merit Award

2010:
+ Architect Magazine Design review [Citation]
+ Arkansas State AIA Honor Award

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