Sacred Ground, The International Family Church

The International Family Church (IFC) project was an ambitious vision to create a holistic, LEED-certified, ADA accessible community campus. This comprehensive plan included a 1200-seat sanctuary, children's church, media production center, school, daycare, gymnasium, youth center, offices, and a large parking facility.

The proposed site, a historic 8.5-acre industrial location in Winchester, MA, posed significant environmental challenges. Despite these, plans were drafted for thoughtful environmental restoration, including riverfront and wetland revitalization and the creation of community green spaces.

The comprehensive feasibility study highlighted the need for IFC to relocate to a new facility to achieve its mission and goals. Our plans then served as a critical tool in illustrating the site's potential to future buyers, leading to its eventual sale.

Categories: Arts, Music, Education, and Culture | Workspace Incubator | Spiritual Retreats | Commemorative Spaces | Sustainable Design | Inclusive Architecture

Sacred Ground, The International Family Church, Concept Master Plan

Sacred Ground, The International Family Church, Concept Master Plan

The development of a feasibility study and concept master plan for The International Family Church (IFC) to investigate the creation of a new holistic, LEED-certified, ADA accessible campus, bringing together family and friends through the enrichment

The development of a feasibility study and concept master plan for The International Family Church (IFC) to investigate the creation of a new holistic, LEED-certified, ADA accessible campus, bringing together family and friends through the enrichment of learning, service, and worship.

The new campus program would provide a 1200-seat sanctuary, children’s church, television and media production center, offices, school, nursery, daycare, gymnasium, and youth center.

The new campus program would provide a 1200-seat sanctuary, children’s church, television and media production center, offices, school, nursery, daycare, gymnasium, and youth center.

The campus program includes a 400-car parking garage beneath a rooftop playground and garden as well as the restoration of the deteriorated Aberjona riverfront and wetlands, which bisected the site into a flood retention rain garden, a meditation gar

The campus program includes a 400-car parking garage beneath a rooftop playground and garden as well as the restoration of the deteriorated Aberjona riverfront and wetlands, which bisected the site into a flood retention rain garden, a meditation garden, and a community bike path.

The new community campus located on a former 1896 Winn Watch Factory, an 8.5-acre industrial site in Winchester MA, the current home of IFC.

The new community campus located on a former 1896 Winn Watch Factory, an 8.5-acre industrial site in Winchester MA, the current home of IFC.

The site included a historic mill building along the Aberjona River and presented many challenges with enormous environmental issues, which impacted the implementation of the program.

The site included a historic mill building along the Aberjona River and presented many challenges with enormous environmental issues, which impacted the implementation of the program.

The feasibility study, master plan, and concept design brought to light the need for IFC to sell the existing property and relocate to new facilities to meet its mission and goals. The plan became instrumental in showing the potential of the site to

The feasibility study, master plan, and concept design brought to light the need for IFC to sell the existing property and relocate to new facilities to meet its mission and goals. The plan became instrumental in showing the potential of the site to future buyers, resulting in its sale.