Champion Forest Baptist Church
Houston, Texas

Phase III

Project Type: New Construction
Seat Count: 4,300
Opening: August 2002
Architects: Morris Architects &
Kendall/Heaton Associates
AD Scope: Conceptual Auditorium Design
including seating and sightlines, Acoustics,
Audio, Video Systems including MATV,
IMAG and Production, Theatrical Lighting

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A sense of community was one of the primary design directives for the new auditorium for Champion Forest. The design solution was a room that gives each person a visual sense of other worshippers. A deep balcony reduced the footprint of the space allowing for proximity to the stage so that the design works as a whole to support a feeling of being connected. The sense of community is not only supported with the seating and sightlines, but also aurally with the acoustics. The acoustics of the room are designed to create a responsive environment to support congregational worship so that worshippers have a sense of the people around them.

AD and Morris Architects worked hand in hand so that the performance technologies were well integrated into the room and ceiling design. The backstage was planned with large and small rehearsal spaces which double as staging areas for live events.

The speaker layout is left/center/right configuration to support both speech and music, and digital consoles were utilized at the front of house console position and at the on-stage monitor mix position.

The church expanded their video program for the new auditorium. The two rear projection screens which flank the stage are in 16:9 format using all serial digital interface (SDI) video signal components. There are three established camera positions at this time with at least 10 other identified points throughout the main floor, stage, balcony and catwalks which can be used for additional cameras for live events to provide flexibility for the ministry. Part of this flexibility includes a truck dock designed to accommodate a mobile broadcast unit with triax audio and video run to patchbays in the production control room. Production can be controlled from either location or signal shared by both locations.

The theatrical lighting system is a basic scheme designed for weekly services and IMAG; however, extra dimmers and power were incorporated into the design to accommodate touring artists and the annual Christmas production. Architectural lighting was designed to create a welcoming feel. The lights are at a level that illuminate the congregation for IMAG and add a little extra sparkle

Phase I

Seat Count: 2,000
Project type: New Construction
Architect: HH Architects, Dallas, Texas (Phase I & Master Planning)
AD Scope: Acoustics, Audio, Video Planning, Theatrical Lighting

Acoustic Dimensions was hired by Champion Forest Baptist to consult on a multipurpose sanctuary which was Phase 1 of their new campus. The sanctuary space was to incorporate two gymnasiums that could be sectioned off or used for additional congregational seating.

We began discussions with the ministry to establish key priorities on which the acoustics and technical systems would be based. Their top priorities were 1) Preaching, 2) Music, 3) Dramatic Presentations 4) and Congregational Worship.

The worship style at Champion Forest is diverse, and the worship team can range from a 125-voice choir with a brass/string ensemble to a smaller contemporary band. To assist in natural communication among choristers, special wall and ceiling shaping was developed around the choir area.

The multifunctional design produced significant acoustical challenges which were addressed through treating and angling the ceiling and back walls and optimizing speaker placement to provide coverage to the expanded areas. The ceiling design over the sanctuary was developed to support the sound of the congregation naturally.