Challenge

Christ Lutheran Church sought to grow its ministry by expanding worship capacity, but its existing sanctuary and facilities lacked the space and flow needed to serve a growing congregation. The challenge was twofold: design and construct a traditional sanctuary addition that honors Lutheran heritage while also expanding classrooms and support spaces. Site constraints required integrating the new sanctuary, classrooms, and gathering zones seamlessly with the existing facility, while minimizing disruption to ongoing worship and school programs.

Solution

Catalyst Construction, serving as construction manager, partnered with Groth Design Group to deliver a worship addition that celebrated tradition while meeting modern standards for capacity, acoustics, and circulation. The project added a 500-seat sanctuary designed with high ceilings, natural light, and liturgical focus. Alongside the sanctuary, Catalyst managed construction of new classrooms, flexible learning environments, and connecting circulation space. Our sequencing minimized downtime by carefully phasing construction around school calendars and worship schedules. Value engineering allowed stewardship of budget while still achieving durable finishes that supported both daily ministry and long-term worship aesthetics.

Impact

• Delivered a 500-seat sanctuary addition that reinforced Christ Lutheran’s liturgical identity and supports traditional worship with improved acoustics and visibility.
• Reinforced Catalyst’s reputation for building traditional sacred spaces with craftsmanship, budget stewardship, and sensitivity to active ministry life.
• Created seamless integration between old and new spaces, strengthening circulation, arrival experience, and overall campus functionality.
• Expanded classrooms and multipurpose spaces, enabling both school programming and church ministry to grow simultaneously.