Images: GFF Architects
A key goal of the project was to make the long-missing transept additions and other changes look as if they had been there all along.
Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Dallas was designed in the early 1960s by George L. Dahl, a prominent and prolific Dallas architect. Vaguely Norman in style, the traditional cruciform plan featured transepts that appear in the roof form, but were never constructed. After working with GFF Architects on various projects elsewhere on the campus over the previous quarter century, Good Shepherd turned to the firm once again in 2016 to expand the seating capacity of the sanctuary, enhance the sanctuary lighting, replace the sanctuary flooring, add an accessible restroom and a covered porte-cochere drop-off.
Charles Davis Smith FAIA Charles Davis Smith - FAIA
Good Shepherd Episcopal's renovation included a covered porte-cochere drop-off.
Objectives and collaboration
A key goal of the project was to make the long-missing transept additions and other changes look as if they had been there all along. Working without architectural or structural drawings, GFF and its engineering team used a mechanical plan, site investigations, and selective demolition to determine the best approach by which the transepts could be added. Current building and energy codes required more insulation that thickened the roof and wall assemblies, and also required the addition of fire sprinklers with the increased seating capacity.
GFF worked closely with Westcliffe Construction and the fire suppression subcontractor to discretely add the sprinkler system by routing the pipes along the back side of the existing exposed wood trusses and painting them to match the trusses.
Charles Davis Smith FAIA Charles Davis Smith - FAIA
The team added a sprinkler system by routing the pipes along the back side of the existing exposed wood trusses and painting them to match the trusses.
Double wythe exterior brick walls, exposed roof trusses, and a pitched ceiling made it difficult to route mechanical ducts overhead without exposing them, so GFF and the mechanical engineer, Purdy McGuire, routed them horizontally through the crawlspace and then vertically through brick pilasters. Air diffusers were carefully placed to minimize their visual impact.
An English mason replicated segmental arches and acanthus cast stone capitals and laid the masonry at all four corners of the crossing to mask geometrical and dimensional differences.
Interior touches
The carpet in the nave was replaced with porcelain tile complementing the existing slate flooring at the chancel. The dimly lit nave was illuminated more brightly and evenly with the addition of exposed cylindrical downlights discretely positioned behind the roof trusses and the replacement of the existing incandescent lanterns with new LED ones that respect the vocabulary of the original architecture.
By incorporating an adjacent lounge space that was no longer used, the small narthex restroom was enlarged and accessible door hardware was added to the restored carved wood door.
Pews in the south transept match, at a glance, the pews in the main sanctuary. Visually compatible chairs and a portable altar in the north transept can be rearranged to accommodate smaller daily services.
A porte-cochere and drop-off drive were added for the benefit of mobility-impaired congregants. It was designed with a wood deck and trusses echoing the ceiling of the sanctuary and brick columns that match the exterior of the building.
Response from the congregation and staff has been overwhelmingly positive, particularly in regards to the seamlessness of the additions and changes.
