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Acoustics By Design

When Cornerstone Church outgrew their building, they bought land and built on a new site. The church recently recieved the award for Best Audio/Visual Design from the Associated Builders and Contractors Awards Program. The new, 59,300 square foot, church campus features a 900-seat Sanctuary, Youth Ministry Center, Children's Wing, Offices, Prayer Center and Counseling Suite, all centered around a Café Hub. Acoustics By Design made recommendations for comprehensive acoustical engineering and AVL systems design for the project. Our professional engineers modeled the spaces in 3D to predict the aural response. Next, we designed solutions for room acoustics and noise isolation. Acoustical clouds were added to the sanctuary to enhance congregational singing. We worked with the architect, Progressive AE, to recommend acoustical finishes that were both effective and attractive, fitting with the building's aesthetic. Our AVL designers developed technical system designs for Audio, Video, and Theatrical Lighting. The church has recently moved into the new facility, and the congregation's response to the acoustical environment and the AVL Systems has been outstanding. The church truly sounds as good as it looks.

Project Team
Owner: Cornerstone Church, Caledonia, MI
Architect: Progressive AE, Grand Rapids, MI
Mechanical Consultant: Progressive AE, Grand Rapids, MI
Electrical Consultant:Progressive AE, Grand Rapids, MI
Acoustical Consultant: Acoustics By Design, Grand Rapids, MI
Audio Consultant: Acoustics By Design, Grand Rapids, MI
Video Consultant: Acoustics By Design, Grand Rapids, MI
Theatrical Lighting Consultant: Acoustics By Design, Grand Rapids, MI
Audio Video Contractor: Parkway Electric, Holland, MI

Kent Companies, Inc.

With a rapidly growing congregation and an aging existing facility that endured three major renovation and addition projects, Cornerstone Church decided to construct a 60,000 square foot (sf) facility to adequately meet the needs of its ministries.  The design principles for the project included the creation of an engaging and welcoming facility that would become a destination for the community.  The building would be non-traditional and flexible, demonstrating stewardship through the wise use of resources and respect for the environmental. 

Kent Companies was selected to provide turnkey concrete services as part of the $9 million project by the construction manager, Elzinga & Volkers.  Kent utilized a wide variety of its resources and talents combined with cutting-edge construction systems to solve the many challenges of the project and save costs.  

During the final phases of design and struggling economy, it became necessary to lower construction costs without sacrificing space or quality.  In response, Kent proposed several cost saving ideas and worked closely with the architect and construction manager to develop alternatives.  Kent’s efforts saved the project over $250,000 and played a key role in keeping the project alive moving it out of the planning phase and into construction.  Key components of this change included the use of a load bearing tilt-up wall system in lieu of standard brick and block, the conversion of the 225,000 sf parking lot from asphalt to concrete and the utilization of polished concrete as the final flooring.

Converting 26,000 sf of conventional brick and block construction with site-cast, load bearing tilt-up panels proved to be a major cost saving solution.  Construction occurred during the winter months, expediting the schedule and allowing other trades to begin their work earlier than the masonry design would have allowed.  Concrete panels weighing up to 55,000 pounds each were cast on site and lifted into place.

Another key component involved converting the site paving from asphalt to concrete.  This includes the largest concrete parking lot poured in West Michigan in the past 10 years, the fire lanes around the building and a 4,000 sf patio designed to host outdoor weddings.  The paving redesign was aided by the Michigan Concrete Association.  Drive lanes employed a cutting-edge twisted, galvanized steel fiber to help handle truck and bus loads.  Lower life span costs and sustainability features such as less required sight lighting, minimizing the heat island effect of black parking lots, providing a safer place at night and the impression on the community confirmed the decision to build with concrete.  Kent is currently in the process of adding another 45,000 sf of concrete parking lots to handle the church’s significant growth.

Finally, 12,000 sf of interior floor coverings were eliminated by utilizing the concrete floor as finished surface.  In the main gathering area a high tolerance, super flat floor was installed and then ground, honed and polished for a clean, contemporary look that is open and welcoming.  The same type of floor was used in the youth ministry area to achieve an industrial look. 

Since the facility opened in October of 2009, attendance increased by over 40% and Cornerstone now has the sustainable facility it needs to handle the growth of its ministries.