About Us Firm History
DAG Architects began as two designers in a small local Destin, Florida office in 1981. Today, we are a full service design firm employing 70+ professionals in six offices across the southeast.
Expertise
At DAG Architects, we believe exceptional design begins with the end user in mind. We have been designing worship facilities since 1995. Twice recognized as the AIA Florida Firm of the Year, we are committed to elevated design, to our community, and to our clients who earned us these accolades. There are several reasons why clients return to us time and time again:
ā¢ Diverse portfolio: DAG has experience in various project types, including sanctuaries, worship centers, fellowship halls, youth ministries, outdoor celebration pavilions, clergy offices, and administration.
ā¢ Community engagement: The firmās involvement in local organizations demonstrates an understanding of community dynamics and needs.
ā¢ User-centric approach: DAGās emphasis on designing for the users of space ensures the space will meet the specific needs of the faith community.
ā¢ Collaborative process: The firmās dedication to client service suggests a willingness to work closely with church leadership to realize their vision.
Our success is rooted in a commitment to designing every space with the spirit of hospitality, where architectural excellence serves daily life. These projects are our legacy of proven results for our clients and the communities in which we live and serve. By
Mixed-Use, Faith Center Experience
CHRIST OUR REDEEMER CATHOLIC CHURCH
Niceville, FL
ā¢ Master Plan
ā¢ Phase 2
ā¢ Multi-Celebration Outdoor Pavilion
CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC CHURCH
Destin, FL
ā¢ New Education Building and Multipurpose Building
HOLY NAME OF JESUS CATHOLIC CHURCH
Niceville, FL
ā¢ New Chapel Addition
ā¢ Worship Center Renovations
RESURRECTION CATHOLIC CHURCH
Miramar Beach, FL
ā¢ Master Plan
ā¢ Programming
ā¢ New 1,000 Seat Church
AUBURN ASSEMBLY OF GOD* Crestview, FL
ā¢ New Education and Multipurpose Building
CALVARY INDEPENDENT BAPTIST CHURCH*
Fort Walton Beach, FL
ā¢ New Welcome Center
CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH* Fort Walton Beach, FL
ā¢ Master Plan
ā¢ Sanctuary
DELORES HOPE ALL FAITH CHAPEL
Shalimar, FL
ā¢ New Chapel
FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF FORT WALTON
Fort Walton Beach, FL
ā¢ New Addition
DESTIN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH*
Destin, FL
ā¢ Master Plan
ā¢ Jacobās Ladder Preschool Renovation
EAST BRENT BAPTIST CHURCH*
Pensacola, FL
ā¢ New Sanctuary and Education Building
ā¢ New Family Life Center and Multipurpose Building
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF FORT WALTON BEACH
Fort Walton Beach, FL
ā¢ Master Plan
ā¢ New Education Building
ā¢ New 1,200 Seat Sanctuary
ā¢ Renovation of Old Sanctuary into Nursery, Youth, and Childrenās Educational Space
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF SHALIMAR
Shalimar, FL
ā¢ Master Plan
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF DESTIN
Destin, FL
ā¢ Master Plan
ā¢ New 250 Seat Sanctuary
ā¢ New Education Building
ā¢ New Fellowship Hall Building
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF MARY ESTHER
Mary Esther, FL
ā¢ Master Plan
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH*
Fort Walton Beach, FL
ā¢ Master Plan
ā¢ Educational Building Renovation
ā¢ Nursery
ā¢ Sanctuary
OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH
Crestview, FL
ā¢ Addition
ROCKY BAYOU BAPTIST CHURCH
Niceville, FL
ā¢ Master Plan
ā¢ New Church Education Building
SAFE HARBOR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Destin, FL
ā¢ New 150 Seat Sanctuary Addition
SAINT ANDREW BY THE SEA EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Destin, FL
ā¢ Master Plan
ā¢ New Education Building and Day Care Center
ā¢ Fellowship Hall
ā¢ Design-Build Project
ST. LUKE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH*
Pensacola, FL
ā¢ Master Plan / Sanctuary
SEAGROVE BAPTIST CHURCH*
Santa Rosa Beach, FL
ā¢ Sanctuary TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Valparaiso, FL
ā¢ New Education Building TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH*
Fort Walton Beach, FL
ā¢ Master Plan
ā¢ Sanctuary Chancel & Restroom Remodel
VILLAGE BAPTIST CHURCH
Destin, FL
ā¢ Master Plan
ā¢ New Education and Fellowship Hall Building
ā¢ New Family Life Center
ā¢ New 1,000 Seat Sanctuary
Other Similar or Related Facilities
CHIPOLA COLLEGE CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Marianna, FL
GRETCHEN NELSON SCOTT FINE ARTS CENTER
Lynn Haven, FL
TLH ARTS, INC.
Tallahassee, FL
FAMILY WORSHIP AND PRAISE CENTER
Tallahassee, FL
CITY OF LYNN HAVEN SPORTS COMPLEX TO #1 COMMUNITY CENTER
Lynn Haven, FL
COMMUNITY LOVE CENTER
Fort Walton Beach, FL
MARTIN LUTHER KING COMMUNITY CENTER
Pensacola, FL
NICEVILLE COMMUNITY CENTER
Niceville, FL
NFSC EOC / COMMUNITY SERVICES COMPLEX
Niceville, FL
PERDIDO KEY FIRE STATION AND COMMUNITY CENTER
Pensacola, FL
SOUTHWOOD COMMUNITY PARK
Tallahassee, FL
SOUTHWOOD RECREATION CENTER/COMMUNITY PARK
Tallahassee, FL
SWIFT CREEK COMMUNITY CENTER
Niceville, FL
LEGION FIELD NEIGHBORHOOD RESOURCE CENTER
Pensacola, FL
WOODLAND HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD RESOURCE CENTER
Pensacola, FL
ROCKY BAYOU CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Niceville, FL
Christ Our Redeemer
Niceville, FL
Christ Our Redeemer Catholic Church is celebrating a significant milestone in its mission to serve the spiritual and community needs of its parishioners. During the initial planning phase, it became clear that the growing needs of the parish not only called for renovations but also for entirely new spaces dedicated to ministry, celebration, and worship.
DAG Architects designed the new Faith Formation Building that beautifully complements the existing sanctuary and renovated religious education facility, marking a new chapter of growth for the parish. The new building includes a spacious parish hall with a warming kitchen, large training room, intimate conference and bereavement spaces, and an administrative wing that supports the priest and parish staff.
These additions aim to strengthen the churchās capacity to host gatherings, support ministries, and carry out administrative work in a modern and welcoming environment. With these new and improved spaces, Christ Our Redeemerās campus is flourishing, as the parish continues to grow and serve its community with renewed energy and purpose.
St. John Paul II Catholic Church
Ponte Vedra, FL
Designed with Michael G. Imber Architects.
First Baptist Church
Ft. Walton Beach, FL
Rocky Bayou Christian School
Niceville, FL
DAG Architects worked with stakeholders to design a two-story high school addition as well as upgrade additional areas of Rocky Bayou Christian School. We presented the project to stakeholders via VR technology, which helped raise an additional $3.5 million to make the project even better than first imagined.
The new building includes three fully outfitted lab spaces; a STEAM classroom lab with indoor-outdoor access for experimentation and varied learning; and administration, conference, and informal gathering spaces. Classrooms were designed to maximize daylight and flexibility. Traffic improvements included widening the entry road to the school, upgrading the parking lot and lighting, and adding sidewalks for pedestrian safety.
Collaboration with stakeholders led to a cohesive branding vision, with museum-like graphics telling the schoolās history intertwined with inspirational Christian messages. DAG is set to help the school reimagine their campus master plan.
Mary Esther Church
Mary Esther, FL
Working with the Church Building Committee and several church members who were contractors, a design-build team was assembled.
DAG provided the design and managed construction administration for the 15,500 SF church addition. The results met the budget and the building pleased the congregation.
Chipola College for the Arts
Marianna, FL
Designed to engage the community in the arts, the new Center for the Arts established a prominent āfront doorā for the Chipola College campus. Serving approximately 10,000 annual visitors, the performing arts facility caters to the cultural and artistic needs of students, residents, and community organizations.
The center features a 655-seat performance theater equipped with a fly loft and orchestra pit, as well as a 150-seat black box theater designed for intimate performances and recitals. For the convenience of performers, there are four dressing rooms with capacity for 40-60 people. The center also includes an art gallery, a spacious green room, a dance studio, a costume shop, and a two-story set design workshop. The lobby serves as a central gathering space for informal socializing and fundraising events, enhancing the communityās engagement with the arts.
HLGstudio partnered on the interior design.
Resurrection Catholic Church
Miramar Beach, FL
Dune Lakes Elementary School
Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Dune Lakes Elementary School sets a new standard for K-12 school design with its award-winning, eco-friendly, and safety-minded features. Through design research on the long-term benefits of both immersive and kinesthetic activity as well as biophilic design on educational outcomes, āAnytime learningā became one of the key design strategies for Dune Lakes Elementary School. Stepped seating, teaching walls, open outdoor areas, and interactive wall elements ensure students have unique opportunities to engage, collaborate, and study.
Each classroom and public circulation space incorporates natural daylighting, either through large windows, clerestory windows, or towering skylights. Wayfinding was inspired by the countyās environmental and historical richness, allowing the buildings themselves to be part of the studentsā educational experiences. The project reflects architectural elements familiar to the community, while environmentally conscious elements include interior finishes, LED lighting, and native landscaping. The elementary school utilizes a variety of CPTED principles and safe school strategies, while still maximizing moments of creative play, whimsy, and inquisitive learning.
University Academy
Panama City, FL
DAGās adaptive reuse project transformed a former airport terminal into a vibrant 68,000 SF charter school serving Pre-K through fifth grade students in the newly formed SweetBay community. The conversion anchors a 704-acre mixed-use, master-planned community, with residential areas, retail spaces, restaurants, and recreational facilities including a central park.
To better suit its new role as an elementary school, the buildingās entry scale was reduced. Visitors now enter through a secure vestibule, which opens into a striking two-story staircase. The central space of the terminal was re-envisioned as a key visual feature, celebrating the buildingās aviation heritage through a vertical wood wing sculpture, stainless steel rivets and edges, and star-like pin lighting.
The terminalās central concourse was reconfigured as the schoolās main corridor. A brightly colored, transparent dining and multipurpose area now occupies the spaces once designated for ticketing, a cafĆ©, and a lounge. A partial glass enclosure with Mondrian-inspired panels separates this area from the corridors.
Classrooms were designed for flexibility, with movable walls that can create one large space or three smaller classes. Acoustic ceiling discs and lighting add visual interest and enhance the overall atmosphere.
