The congregation of Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church had outgrown their auxiliary building. Paul Risk Associates, Inc. was selected to lead this Design/Build project to provide a new Family Life Center that would meet the current and future needs of the Church. Lewis & Associates, Architects designed the building to resemble a stone farm house with an adjoining barn in order to fit into the surrounding farming community.
The two story “farm house” was designed to create a central lobby with a clerestory to allow natural light into the “Gathering Area”. This area includes a fireplace and a coffee bar, as well as a Library façade which features reclaimed stained glass windows from the old church house. The perimeter of this level includes four classrooms, a library, a nursery, the church office area and a commercial kitchen. Since the building lot sloped down toward the back of the site, the lower level is designed as a walk-out basement. It includes nine classrooms around the perimeter with a large classroom in the center. The Nursery School is located at the rear of the lower level with an adjoining fenced in playground area that is isolated from the road for security. The “Barn” is a 76’x 58’ multi-purpose room with a 30’ x 15’ elevated stage. It is used as a banquet room, gymnasium, and worship hall.

Type of Construction
• Exterior wall system is Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) system.
• Interior structural steel framing and slab on metal deck.
• Roof systems are pre-fabricated wood trusses and I-joists.
• Interior walls are a combination of concrete block and metal studs wall framing with sound insulation and gypsum wall board.
• Standing seam metal roof on wrap around porch on the Farmhouse. EPDM roofing on the mechanical equipment area and asphalt shingles on the high roof.
• Cast stone veneer accent walls and water table. Vinyl siding above the water table.

Nature of Facility
Paul Risk Associates, the Chestnut Level Building committee, and Lewis & Associates Architects planned for the many needs of the congregation. The gathering area allows members of the Church to socialize before and after services and provides an area for many different events. The needs of the Sunday School are met with new classrooms. The busy Nursery School is located in the classrooms on the lower level with an adjoining fenced-in playground area that is protected from the road for security. Each of the Nursery School classrooms has an adjoining toilet room with size appropriate facilities. The commercial kitchen provides cooking and catering for different functions. The “Barn” serves as a banquet hall, a performance and worship center, and a gymnasium for the Nursery School and church sport teams. While meeting the needs of the congregation, these facilities also allow the Church to realize additional revenue through facility rentals.