Down Town Christian Centre

Due rapid growth in church numbers in the last five years a new contemporary thousand seater auditorium extension linked to a functions hall has been added to the existing 1950s church building. To make space, the existing house was demolished. A new two storey semi-circular structure was tactfully added onto the side of the heritage sensitive ‘First City Baptist Church’ component. The superstructure of the existing single storey hall was demolished down to ring beam level, with new structure added to allow for an additional level over. To meet the stringent fire safety regulations on escape routes and maximum travel distances, as well as cater for wheelchair users, a ramp / stairway corridor was added as a feature of the new consolidated layout. Whilst this ‘pause space’ has distinct functional characteristics, the area also acts as a buffer zone between the old and the new and allows views out onto the bustling Oxford Street vista beyond.