CLIENT: Southside Church
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
PRI provided structural design and construction engineering services for a 36,000 sq. ft. church facility. The building includes a large primary auditorium with a 1,038-person capacity, a secondary auditorium, a two-storey office, classrooms, and a large foyer.
CHALLENGE:
The scale and complexity of the facility demanded the integration of multiple structural systems across distinctly different functional spaces — from a large-capacity assembly auditorium to intimate classroom and office environments — each with its own structural and load requirements. Coordinating tilt concrete, structural steel, and timber construction within a single cohesive building presented significant design and construction coordination challenges.
APPROACH:
PRI designed a mixed structural system tailored to the demands of each space within the facility. Tilt concrete walls were used in the primary auditorium to handle the large spans and assembly loads of the high-capacity space. Structural steel was employed in the secondary auditorium and foyer to achieve the open, column-free areas suited to those gathering spaces. Timber construction was specified for the classroom and office areas, providing an efficient and appropriate solution for the smaller-scale occupied spaces.
OUTCOME:
PRI successfully delivered a structurally sound and fully integrated facility that meets the diverse functional needs of a large community church. The completed building accommodates over 1,000 occupants in the primary auditorium while providing flexible, well-supported spaces for offices, classrooms, and secondary assembly areas across all three structural systems.