Amidst an economy that has stopped the “American Dream” of single-family sprawling subdivisions and single-use mega campuses in their tracks, alternative models are emerging for community. One of the largest “cities on a hill” pointing the way out of the darkness is the Stapleton community in Denver, and in the heart of it is now a sacred space in a one-of-a-kind structure: Stapleton Fellowship Church.
The close of Denver’s Stapleton International Airport in 1995 launched a unique opportunity to develop 7.4 square miles as a massive mixed-use, smart growth community only 15 minutes from downtown Denver. International eyes carefully watched the development of the community as leading planners intentionally set it apart from previous models of suburban development. As part of the nation’s largest New Urbanist infill development, Stapleton’s Phase I, 2.1-square-mile community now boasts human-scaled, walkable streetscapes featuring porches (with garage doors hidden behind alleys), 36 miles of biking trails along parks and streams, and vibrant live/work/play “Main Streets.” As Jason Whitlock, regional director of Visioneering Studios based in Irvine, Calif., describes, “This is one of the largest and [most] influential sustainable developments in the nation’s history.”
Ideas take flight
Along the eye-catching thoroughfare of Central Park Boulevard an isolated airplane hangar—one of the last vestiges of the site’s history—was rapidly deteriorating. A unique opportunity existed to tell the story of the site, while facilitating the living out of “His story” (i.e., the Gospel).“Hanger 61 was originally designed by Milo Ketchum, world-renowned for his design of concrete thin shell structures, and was also the first structure of its kind in the USA to feature the use of ‘lightweight concrete,’ meaning concrete that weighs just two-thirds [the weight of] normal weight,” says Ben Nelson, structural engineer and principal at Martin/Martin Consulting Engineers with an office in Lakewood, Colo.
“While common today, it was a breakthrough in the middle 1950s, and especially unusual for thin shell structures,” Martin adds.The barrel vault of Hangar 61 is 33 feet high at its apex and is a diamond-shaped concrete structure that spans 160 feet with no intermediate columns. “One of the most important aspects of this project is what you cannot see below the ground,” says Nelson. “A 4-foot 8-inch wide by 2-foot deep concrete tension tie beam runs the full length of the hangar and connects the buttresses [at] each end of the roof. The tie beam prevents them from spreading apart and allowing the roof to collapse." After the airport’s closing, Hangar 61’s deterioration accelerated and the structure was an eyesore for the emerging Main Street-style community being built up around it. In 2007, facing imminent demolition, the hangar was purchased by Colorado Preservation Inc. with assistance from the State Historic Fund, with basic renovations completed to the exterior and grounds.
Resurrection + community rejuvenation
While the redevelopment of the 4,700-acre urban infill site is considered exemplary for its environmental sustainability, mixed-use, and transit orientation, one key land use was missing from the town center—a place to worship had been replaced at the heart of the city by solely commercial uses. No sites or parcels were set aside for a church to serve the planned 30,000 residents. The missionaries of Stapleton Fellowship Church decided to relocate from Cherry Creek to this greyfield opportunity. Visioneering Studios, a national envision-design-build firm, was called in to look at out-of-the-box solutions to integrate the church into the fabric of the community.
Visioneering initially looked at converting an empty big-box retail space in one of the strip shopping centers, but when that deal fell through they found one of the most unique sites ever to be considered for use as a church.Saving the old structure involved keeping the iconic identity of the form clear from the exterior while infilling all that is needed for a 300-seat community and worship area on the inside designed to lift the spirit. Because of the historic designation the exterior of the structure could not be modified in any significant manner, and because the thin-shelled concrete structure was not designed to support any additional weight hung from the roof all of the new interior structural changes had to be supported independently. A new mezzanine was designed in lightweight concrete supported by unadorned ground-face Concrete Masonry Units (CMUs), simple and local and with the design intent of the original design in mind. The extremely limited onsite parking surrounding the historic structure was only a fraction of the required parking needed for a new worship facility. Rather than adding the asphalt and paving immediately adjacent to the structure, the church found a precise legal solution instead. Additional parking and heat sinks were avoided by a shared parking agreement with a neighboring public use school—and the church counts on a fantastic group of volunteer shuttle drivers to make the connection quick and welcoming. The location within a New Urbanist community also means that fair weather months see bike racks full and neighbors walking to church through neighborhood streets.
From the outside in
The interior continues to be a juxtaposition of old and new. Looking up through the entry space and youth spaces discloses a mix of the original mid-century modern concrete roof curving overhead, framed by playful curving, faceted walls. The design embraces the story of the site as well as the “Jetsonian” architectural vibe of the previously dilapidated structure. “The Terminal” lounge, welcome area, and coffee bar have original sliding hangar doors with floor to ceiling glass walls that now enclose the space. Stained concrete and sleek colors and graphics move a visitor around to the Sky Lounge, Elevate Kids, and into The Lift worship space. The church’s unique mission of being a departure gate for the eternal journey of fellow travelers became the “Big Idea” behind Visioneering’s design intervention. Exposed spiral ductwork, strategically placed glowing light clouds, reclaimed aeronautic artifacts, environmental graphics, and signage resembling aluminum airplane wings enhance the flight theme of the hangar—creating a one-of-a-kind ministry environment.“[We are] thrilled with the design of the build-out of Hangar 61. It is an ingenious re-purposing of a historic structure that is one of the last vestiges of the old Stapleton airport here in Denver,” says Dean Hill, Stapleton Fellowship’s lead pastor.
"We are thrilled with the design of the build-out of Hangar 61…. Aviation imagery abounds and enhances the airport feel, reinforcing at every turn what we are about as a church.”
—DEAN HILL Lead Pastor, Stapleton Fellowship Church, Denver, CO.
“Our mission from the start has been encapsulated in the phrase ‘Helping people on their spiritual journey,’ and Visioneering had the idea of incorporating this [concept] into the theming of the building by giving it the look and feel of an airport.”Hill adds, “Aviation imagery abounds and enhances [the airport] feel, reinforcing at every turn what we are about as a church. I commend Visioneering, as well for their persistence and patience in working with the historical commission here to meet their guidelines. I also admire their creativity and ingenuity in retrofitting a ‘building within a building’ in an unorthodox, one-of-a kind structure. We have seen the building become an important tool in the [advancement] of our ministry in this community, and we have grown in average Sunday attendance by around 45% since the hangar’s grand opening in April (2011).”The joy of Stapleton Fellowship Church is palpable, and its desire is to glorify God through the redemption of both the space (Hangar 61) and the place (the old Stapleton airport) is apparent. The “design intervention” during the project turned an obsolete greyfield into a one-of-a-kind, Christ-centered community, leading to an environment where people can become connected horizontally, with each other, as well as vertically—with our Creator.#
Materials:
Furniture: HBF (Manufacturer) Duna Lounge Chairs with Architex Fabric
Flooring-Children's Ministry: Milliken Contract (Manufacturer)Carpet Style Stimulus Blip
Resilient Tile Flooring-Mezzanine: Armstrong Commercial Flooring (Manufacturer), Style Natural Creations Arbor Art
Children's Check-In Kiosk Stations: 3Form (Manufacturer), Style Struttura Panels
