Sanctuary Remodel to Serve a Multi-Generational Congregation

In late 2017, Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Springfield, Missouri was going through a time of explosive growth, with a significant increase in attendance by families with young children. To appeal to this younger demographic, the church was hosting two different styles of worship services in the same sanctuary with limited transition time. Ridgecrest, looking to meet the needs of their multi-generational church, desired a sanctuary remodel that modernized the space and better appealed to a wide, multi-generational audience.

Paragon was contracted for the project in 2018 to provide scenic, staging, theming, and architectural elements to achieve one of Paragon’s design goals of creating a warmer and more intimate experience in the space to increase connection and engagement.

Audio & Acoustics Improved the Audience Experience

The original audio systems at Ridgecrest Baptist met the initial needs of the congregation, carrying speech and supporting the needs of the choir. However, the church wanted to create a more engaging experience for its congregants and needed an audio system that could achieve this. A new stereo loudspeaker system was installed which is very conducive to praise and worship style music. It is also capable of handling a more traditional choir orchestra setup. Paragon’s strategic audio design offers completely even coverage of the room, which is a high priority of any loudspeaker system. Additionally, a new Allen & Heath dLive Series mixing console was installed. The new console interfaces well with the structure of the church and offers a user-friendly control surface for volunteers.

The original sanctuary design left many acoustical issues un-treated. In the remodel of the sanctuary space, Paragon re-designed all of the acoustical elements. Paragon conducted an elaborate acoustical study of the space, considered the new audio system, determined what needed to be treated and decided on the best acoustical solution. Fabri-TRAK was chosen as the ideal product to resolve the acoustical challenges in the space. Through Paragon's approach to holistic design, the team created a plan for the acoustical work in the space and collaborated with the interior design team to ensure the style of the acoustic installation supported the aesthetics of the space.

Lighting & Video Engages the Audience

The original video systems were not satisfying the needs of the church as they were ineffective at adding value to the service due to their size and illumination. With the desire to increase outreach through broadcast, major system upgrades were required. The Paragon team created a comprehensive solution. The space was upgraded from a non-professional single-man camera to a professional broadcast-style camera. The Paragon team added Remote PTZ cameras which provide a lot of flexibility for cutaway shots. The total infrastructure was also designed to allow for additional cameras to be added, as needed. The control room was expanded and outfitted with a fully functioning broadcast-style video system that supports up to five volunteers to run an engaging and effective service. This system also included a broadcast audio mixer.

A primary goal of the project was to create a space that would ensure the congregation felt like they were part of the service, regardless of where they sat in the sanctuary. Ridgecrest wanted to move people from observers to participants. To help achieve this, the house lighting system was upgraded to a network DMX system with an LED package that allows color mixing. Additionally, illuminated sconces were added to the sidewalls. Additionally, the upgrade simplifies the addition of new equipment in the future and the use of LED extends the life of the fixture, limiting maintenance and volunteer workload.

The existing catwalks were maintained and the Paragon team added NEW motorized lighting positions as well. This allows access to the equipment for future additions or maintenance upgrades. The motorized rigging also gives the Ridgecrest team better access to the lighting, improving safety and limiting liability. Another goal for the lighting upgrade was to improve the quality of the church’s streaming services. Paragon added an additional front-of-house lighting position over the control booth. By adding this new lighting position and calculating the proper lighting angle, the church would see a substantial improvement in lighting downstage area where the pastor would be teaching from on camera.