Parkhill’s mission statement is Building Community which we believe aligns perfectly with faith-based organizations around the globe. You all are doing the Lord’s work of building community to the people and regions you serve. Our mission to build community is not possible without our faith-based practice.
At our core, we believe buildings are tools to reach people, not merely structures. Our process starts by listening intently to your needs, understanding your vision is more important than ours. We are committed to delivering exactly what you ask for, tailored to your goals, rather than what we think is best. This focus on your vision ensures the final product is something you can fully embrace, and we are confident when the project concludes, we will have established a lasting relationship, ready to partner again in the future.
Our unique perspective, deeply rooted in both design and service, allows us to approach each project with a focus on creating spaces that foster community, connection, and purpose—especially for Millennial’s and Gen Z, with whom we have developed a strong rapport.
We also take seriously the stewardship of Kingdom resources. Our approach is to be intentional and efficient with every decision—if something doesn’t need to be drawn, we don’t draw it. We prioritize what is essential for your mission, ensuring the project stays on time and within budget, while maintaining the highest level of integrity.
FAITH-BASED LEADERSHIP
COMMUNITY SECTOR DIRECTOR
Michael Howard, AIA, RLA, AICP MHoward@Parkhill.com
FAITH-BASED PRACTICE LEADER
Nick Cooper NCooper@Parkhill.com
DESIGN PROFESSIONAL
Mark Ashcraft MAschcraft@Parkhill.com
ARCHITECTURAL PRINCIPAL
Kreg Robertson, AIA KRobertson@Parkhill.com
PROJECT MANAGERS
Clay Kinney, AIA
Luke Quebe, AIA
Margaret Regain, AIA
Ray Thomas, AIA
Yoosook Lee, AIA
EXTRA SERVICES LEADERSHIP
MEP/S ENGINEERING
Ryan Bailey, PE RBailey@Parkhill.com
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Chad Davis, RLA CDavis@Parkhill.com
DESIGN STUDIO
Brandon Young, AIA BYoung@Parkhill.com
Sponsoring
The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast
After earning my degree in construction engineering, spent the next 17 years in full-time vocational ministry. My roles as a college pastor and head teaching pastor have given me deep insight into the unique challenges faith-based organizations encounter. Now, see my role at Parkhill as a new way to serve—helping churches expand the Kingdom while minimizing the burdens they face. I’m particularly motivated by the desire to ensure future generations, including my own children, have spaces where they can worship and grow spiritually.
From design to delivery, we pride ourselves on being highly creative and flexible, crafting solutions that not only meet your needs but also reflect your values and purpose. We look forward to the opportunity to work with you, ensuring that every aspect of your project is a success and that we build something that truly serves your community for years to come.
Nick Cooper Faith-Based Practice Leader NCooper@Parkhill.com
469.325.7393
PARKHILL FIRM LEADERSHIP
CEO / President Jay Edwards, PE
EVP of Architecture Dan Hart, FAIA, PE
EVP of Engineering John T Hamilton, PE
SVP of Development Scott Nelson, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
SVP of Development Drew Hardin, PE
SVP of Finance Brian Irlbeck
SVP of People and Culture Dawn Moore, SPHR, SHRM-SP
Scan the QR code to listen to Carey Nieuwhof’s podcast sponsored by Parkhill!
In This Issue
PARKHILL IS NAMED #1
In 2023, the Giants 400 Report listed Parkhill top of the list for religious facility architecture firm in the US.
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THE VALUE IN A NEW PROJECT APPROACH
When you let the budget drive decisions, you are more likely to keep your program in budget.
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5 POINTS OF CONNECTION
A church is designed to connect people to one another and to God. How can your building be more effective at this?
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Q&A WITH OUR STAFF
Get the inside scoop on Scott and Mark’s dreams, passions, and stories of where it all began.
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MAKING AN IMPACT FOR ETERNITY
Gateway Church has experienced radical transformation in the past several years across multiple campuses.
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STEWARDING KINGDOM RESOURCES WITH WISDOM
Parkhill has adapted a new project delivery method to save your church time and money.
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We are here to serve you.
Parkhill is named #1
Top Religious Facility Architecture Firm for 2023
It was just a routine Monday morning when the faith-based team joined their weekly meeting to get updates on ongoing projects and brainstorm new innovative ideas when they got some surprising news! Dan Hart, FAIA, PE joined the call to announce to our leadership team that we were listed on the Top 80 Religious Facility Architecture Firms in 2023 at the number one spot as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report.
The news came as a bit of a surprise to everyone, not because we do not believe in the work we are doing, but because we are focused on more than just the recognition. It is an honor to even be a part of this list, nonetheless to be on the very top, but we pride ourselves in the relationships we build with our clients. Working with churches across the nation to help them Build Community in their area is our passion.
“The best part about this award is that it is not our focus to maximize our revenue. Our focus is to create long-lasting relationships with our clients, and this award is just an added highlight to the work we were able to accomplish in 2023.
- NICK COOPER, FAITH-BASED PRACTICE LEADER
The leadership team did not hesitate to share the news with the rest of the employees that contribute to all of Parkhill’s faith-based projects. There is so much credit due to all of our professional staff, younger architects, engineering teams, and design professionals that make what we do possible.
The Monday morning meeting turned into a moment of celebration for the team to remember all of the hard work they accomplished over the past year. Everyone’s camera screens saw big smiles and lots of high fives among team members. By the end of the meeting, the team was back to brainstorming big ideas and updating each other on projects that are wrapping up and new projects that are just beginning. While 2023 was a great year, we are not ready to slow down yet! This award is an honor to receive, and now it spurs us on to be more successful in the future. We are fueled by the need of churches to wisely use their resources to further and deepen their reach.
Our Team is continually inspired by the churches we get to know firsthand and see the work they are doing in their communities. It is our joy to serve them and we look forward to many more relationships built, projects completed, and years of success!
Gateway Church - Frisco Campus Frisco, Texas
DESCRIPTION: Worship Center, Splash Pad, Playground Atrium, Gathering Space, Children’s Education, Indoor Playground, and Playscape.
SIZE: 70,000 SF
YEAR COMPLETED: 2023
Shoreline City Church
Dallas, Texas
DESCRIPTION: Interior Renovation, Safety Upgrades, New Flooring/Ceilings, MEPS Engineering, Audio/Video/Lighting Upgrades, Worship Center, Café, Children’s Classrooms, and Indoor Play Area.
SIZE: 79,800 SF
YEAR COMPLETED: 2023
Prestonwood Baptist Church Joe Perry
Sports Complex
Plano, Texas
PROJECT COMPONENTS: Baseball, Football, and Soccer Fields, Outdoor Pavilion, Food Truck Plaza, Turf, Field Lighting, and Outdoor Inclusive Playscape.
SIZE: 35 acres
YEAR COMPLETED: 2022
The Value in a New Project Approach
In today’s design landscape, aligning projects to budget rather than solely to program goals is more essential than ever. While many believe they are already designing with budget in mind, the persistent trend of projects running over budget suggests otherwise. By allowing budget constraints to guide design decisions from the start, project teams can more effectively ensure that their program aligns with financial realities, leading to a more balanced and achievable vision. Shifting to a budget-driven approach could be the key to delivering projects that meet both financial and functional expectations.
Breaking the Cycle of Construction Frustration Through Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
For many pastors and church leaders, building projects have long been seen as a challenge rather than an exciting milestone. Too often, designers hear frustrations like “it was a beating,” or “we still aren’t happy with the final result.” These struggles aren’t the result of bad intentions or lack of effort — they stem from an outdated process that doesn’t support collaboration or communication. At Parkhill, we’ve walked alongside many faith-based communities. We understand that congregations depend on these projects to reflect their vision and values. As a former pastor, know that asking for money is difficult. The more you ask, the more people will lose trust — and the stakes are high when every dollar counts.
That’s why we’ve learned from the challenges of the past and embraced Integrated Project Delivery (IDP) — a collaborative, forward-thinking approach that creates better results, clearer communication, and stronger partnerships.
Why Traditional Methods Fall Short
For many pastors and church leaders, building projects have long been seen as a challenge rather than an exciting milestone.
What is Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)?
IPD is a collaborative approach that aligns the interest of the entire project team, from architects and engineers to general contractors and trades. Unlike the traditional model, where each group works independently, IPD brings everyone to the table from the start.
It was developed in San Francisco, California, in the early 2000s by healthcare providers and designers who faced communication breakdowns, silos, creeping budgets, and many of the challenges we face across the industry.
The concept is to control pricing through collaboration, allowing the design and pricing to happen in real time.
Budget Control from the Start
The design team creates a design, contractors price it, and the owner may face tough decisions when unexpected costs arise. This disconnect results in Value Engineering, where features are cut to fit the budget, something like gathering space or landscaping that won’t hurt the purpose but does impact the usefulness of the facility.
Ever been in a space and thought, “Why did they put this here?” or “They didn’t think about how people would use this area.” Design flaws can and do happen, but it’s likely that cuts needed to be made to fit the budget.
The design must be redrawn and repriced, creating opportunities to incur more costs and budget creep. That’s money that’s no longer going to square footage or useful space but lost to inefficiency.
It’s no wonder faith-based clients are saying, “I don’t ever want to do that again.”
Aligned
Incentives for All
I’ve never been in an interview where a contractor, architect, or owner said they didn’t want to collaborate, so where do we go wrong? A traditional contract creates a triangle with two lines. The client at the center point with the design team on one side and contractors on the other.
In a typical project, the design team, contractors, trades, and other stakeholders operate in silos, often leading to communication breakdowns, cost overruns, compromised designs, and strained relationships.
Research shows only 19% of clients are satisfied with communication during the construction process in the architectural/engineering (AE) industry. What’s more, most contractors seem to share an “unsatisfied” impression of AE firms.
We’ve seen firsthand that it doesn’t need to be that way. That’s where IPD comes in.
The dream is almost always bigger than the budget, but by involving contractors and trades in the early design phases, clients get an accurate sense of the project’s budget.
IPD minimizes the risk of costly surprises down the road. By integrating knowledge from the smartest and most creative minds involved in the construction process, IPD helps return the best price for a project.
DESIGNERS CONTRACTORS
There’s no direct link, no reason for the two teams to work together. To protect themselves, the design team puts more and more detail into their drawings, which makes information difficult for contractors to find. Contractors protect themselves and the client by pointing out gaps in the drawings down the line, which creates change orders. That translates to higher cost for the client.
Andreas Phelps, Ph.D., founder of The Collective Potential, a leading think tank of LEAN construction practices, states it in a unique way:
“One of the most effective ways to control costs in today’s market is to compete for the right people to work on a project. Making companies bid for a job based on the cost of the work is a way to guarantee the cost will go up.”
On an IPD project, each party shares one contract, which means shared responsibility, risks, and profits tied to overall success. This gives everyone a vested interest in finding ways to save time and money without compromising on quality. For example, if a trade company suggests a more efficient way to route ductwork, the money saved gets added to the profit-sharing pool. At the end of the project, shared savings and contingencies are split between the client (who often receives 50%) and the design team, contractors, and trades splitting the remainder. The better the team, the higher their reward. It also means when challenges arise, the focus is on resolving them quickly and efficiently rather than on who should take the blame. The project budget still includes a standard construction contingency and added protection for the owner – the team’s collective profit becomes a secondary contingency. Before the owner pays anything, the team profit pool covers mistakes or oversights, motivating them to work together and create better solutions.
FUN FACT: Originally from New Orleans - Who Dat! Meet the Author
Integrated Project Delivery is more than just a project management method – it’s a shift in how the industry approaches construction. At Parkhill, we’re committed to delivering comprehensive solutions that meet the needs of our clients through long-lasting relationships. We’ve walked through the challenges of construction projects many times and understand how important it is to get it right. By putting collaboration, communication, and efficiency at the forefront, IPD helps clients and teams avoid the pitfalls of traditional project execution.
If you’re interested in learning more about how IPD could benefit you on your next project, reach out to Parkhill at Faith@Parkhill.com. We’re ready to bring your vision to life using the most forward-thinking methods in the industry.
“God cares about beauty. He cares about aesthetics. What you [Parkhill] bring to bear on the kingdom is creating spaces. You create welcoming monuments to the Kingdom of God, and I can’t wait to walk in and participate in all you [Parkhill] build here on this corner for us.
- MATT CHANDLER, LEAD PASTOR THE VILLAGE CHURCH
Points of Connection 5
Designing a church building is an in-depth process of seamlessly integrating architectural creativity with spiritual connections. Whether someone is attending a church for the first time or is a consistent member, they are seeking connection and belonging. Parkhill helps churches design their facilities with connection in mind. Parkhill’s mission is “Building Community by creating inventive, relevant built environments together.” We believe the church building can help build community spiritually, relationally, and physically.
The church building serves various purposes for many different people groups throughout the week, and it is important to have adequate space and resources for each ministry. Proper design elements are vital to eliminate any awkward confusion or daunting emotions associated with entering a new space. We want to help gatherers feel more connected in the built environment of the church building, so they are comfortable enough to start making connections to God and others.
The first impression of a new space is vital for how someone connects to a building and if they are going to come back again. Carey Nieuwhof writes, “It’s hard to believe, but according to people who study these things, first-time guests to your church make up their minds whether they’re coming back or not in the first 10 minutes of their visit. Often the barrier to Christ isn’t spiritual—it’s us.” Parkhill is here to assist your church make a better first impression on guests, while also positively impacting your members. The parking lot and the entrance are the first impressions someone is going to have of your church. Safe and reliable parking with plenty of space for the Sunday crowd can leave a lasting impression. If the parking is great, no one will notice, but if the parking is bad, everyone will notice. For example, a family with a disabled child will be hindered from connecting to the church when they
cannot find a spot for their van in the parking lot if they are a few minutes late or the second service on a Sunday morning is always running late because the guests are forced to wait for the first service congregants to leave the parking lot to find a spot. Designing churches with everyone in mind means we start considerations for renovations, expansions, and new builds with the parking lot. It seems like a small issue, but we have seen parking to be detrimental for many churches. The other aspect of a church’s first impression is its entryway, which is vital for any gathering. Some churches have a confusing and unclear layout which makes locating the entrance a challenge. The courage it takes for new guests to attend church is already hard to come by, so we want to eliminate any stress and anxiety that is caused by trying to figure out where the front door is. The goal of the first impression of a church is to make it clear and simple, so the enemy cannot convince guests to turn around in confusion or frustration. If you can convince guests to stay in the first 10 minutes of arrival to your property, it is more likely they will connect to your church and ultimately, with God.
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Whew! An attendee has made it past the parking lot and into the entryway of your church. Where do they go next? The second connection point in Parkhill’s design for churches and religious facilities is the gathering spaces. Gathering spaces are unique for every church and there is a lot of flexibility in the design options. Most commonly, we design indoor church lobbies as gathering spaces for fellowship, refreshments, and connection in between services. Parkhill works hard to help churches see more opportunities for connection in their lobby. We think through different scenarios with church staff to hear their vision and the heart behind their lobby space. It does not matter the size of your church; every lobby can be utilized to help your congregants connect with one another and with volunteers. Another emerging popular trend for churches is an outdoor gathering space or a pavilion. You may see an increase in churches having outdoor pavilions on their campuses in the next several years, because of the tremendous opportunity they create for more connection. Parkhill is designing or has already designed multiple of these spaces for churches across the United States. We have all heard the
As heartbreaking as that is, some people truly believe that and have a real fear of entering a church building. These outdoor gathering spaces can help churches eliminate, once again, the lies of the enemy and help people feel more comfortable. At Parkhill, we believe in the church being a space for more than just Sunday mornings and for more than just people who have been in church their whole lives. What about the people who are too afraid to walk in? Perhaps, an outdoor gathering space will help them feel more secure. They may attend the outdoor area with their children on a weekday or they may just sit outside and get coffee with a friend in the shade. Either way, these pavilions extend an invitation to all people to connect to your church in a casual environment. Gathering spaces can be crowded with people and still feel isolating if they are not designed correctly. Parkhill designs gathering spaces to create smaller pockets of space people can connect in within the room at large. Our goal is to provide more intimate spaces within your lobby and pavilions to help people feel welcomed and cared for, to create connections, and to build community.
Children and youth areas are our third point of connection. We see many challenges for churches when it comes to children/youth areas: not enough space, confusion in layout, safety concerns, etc. One of the most important spaces in your church is where you pour into the next generations. Parkhill has designed hundreds of children/youth areas for churches throughout the United States across many denominations, and every church has unique needs for the next-generation ministries. Despite the differences in playgrounds, small to large classrooms, colorful bathroom tile, and more it remains to be true that every ministry serves with the child in mind. Parkhill designs children/youth areas with the child in mind as well. We want to help the children have a space they can connect to, so they are more attentive, well-behaved, and safe to learn and grow in their relationship with God. We also keep in mind the parents, the staff, the volunteers, and any visitors to help everyone have the best experience possible. We have tools that can help us plan for your church’s future growth and see what needs your next-generation ministries might have in the upcoming 5 to 10 to 20 years. We want to make sure the single mom with multiple children can check her kids in promptly, and the volunteer who has faithfully served for 10+ years can have adequate resources to teach them. We want children to have fun and look forward to their time at church. Another important thing we consider with the children/ youth areas of a church is the aesthetic appeal of the space. Does the theme connect with the rest of the church? Our interior designers are skilled professionals at creating entertaining, yet modern spaces for children to be able to act like children, while still connecting the aesthetics to the rest of the building. After all, the children are as much a part of the church as anyone else! By now, one may be wondering when we are going to mention the worship space in a church, well now is the time! While we believe there are many vital spaces in a church, including the ones described above, we can never neglect the place of worship. Across many different theological backgrounds, we have designed countless sanctuaries for connection. From 100 seats to 1,000 seats, a full band to acoustic, traditional pews and stained-glass windows to
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phrase, “If I walk into the church building, will get struck down by lightning.”
Have you ever been in a crowded room and felt out of place or alone? We design churches to help people be known. No matter how big your church is, we can create spaces to connect for intimacy between your members and guests.
modern chairs and high-tech lighting systems, one thing remains the same for all churches, they want to help people connect to God in their services. Parkhill recognizes the weight behind the sanctuary and worship spaces and has extensive knowledge of architecture, interior design, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, plumbing engineering, structural engineering, and more to help the space feel like somewhere people can let down their guard and come to the foot of the cross. We want to help your church remove all distractions the enemy might try to use to hinder attendees’ worship. We help churches create adequate spacing for their attendees when they are in seasons of growth and expansion, as well as create spaces that can be used for multiple purposes. We think through all the minor details like whether you can see the screen from the back/top row, where the lights are located, why the aisles are in certain places, how many exits are needed, and much more. There are many ways members and guests can connect with the church, with each other, and with God in this space. Our team is built up of church members, pastors, worship leaders, volunteers, elders/deacons, and more who are passionate about using their gifts in design to help churches flourish in connecting with members and guests.
Lastly, the fifth point of connection in a church is the additional educational spaces Classrooms, offices, and administration spaces can be used in mighty ways for the Kingdom of God if they are properly designed and accessible. We have seen the struggle of churches to get
their congregants involved in small groups outside of Sunday services, and we believe the proper design of the first four connection points can help spur attendees on to continue connecting in smaller settings. Maybe someone wants to start a young adult ministry, needs a counseling session with the pastor, or makes a decision to follow the Lord after a service. Where do you go? Does your church have space for these intimate and confidential conversations? The classrooms of a church might be the place of deepest connection for someone if they have the courage to get there. Parkhill helps churches have discernment and confidence in their decision-making for the quantity and size of classrooms/offices they may need for the present and the future with customized data and research. We never want a church to have any wasted space, and we strive for churches to be functional for more than just one day a week. Some of the greatest testimonies occur behind the scenes, so we are passionate about designing classrooms, offices, and administration spaces. Our goal is to have members and guests feel confident, comfortable, and connected to your church through the first four areas of connection to make the leap of faith required to join the current class you are offering or reach out to the staff and visit the offices, leading to completion of all five connection points of your church.
We strongly believe our mission, Building Community is not possible without designing the churches within our communities. It is our honor to come alongside churches to design functional spaces to connect with each other and with God. Our passion is to hear the why behind a church’s vision and help them make it a reality.
pockets OF SPACE to connect
of
With Our Staff
What inspired you to pursue a career in architecture and design?
Scott: When I was growing up, my dad was an architect and owned his own business. From a young age, saw what he did, and I worked for him early on. That led me down this career track of architecture and design.
Mark: I‘ve always been a doodler or sketcher. I’m always drawing or making something. I also like problem solving and like people. I went into engineering and then realized very quickly that I’m not an engineer. happened to have an advisor that suggested environmental design, which was Texas A&M’s architecture program. I got into it and liked it. realized there’s problems to solve and it’s based on people, so it’s people-based solutions. I also get to be creative. get to basically draw and create things. may not have taken a direct path, but I think I took the path that was laid before me. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
What skill has served you best in your architecture career?
Scott: What clients tell me is that they appreciate my ability to listen well, which may seem odd for an architecture career. choose to listen and from there, I pursue different thoughts and ideas on the design approach. I always like walking in with many options rather than just one. Listening thoroughly to the clients’ needs allows us to discover different ideas that will bring their vision to reality.
Mark: It is a recent skill in the last five to 10 years, but have realized the importance of asking big questions but making sure you’re always pragmatic with your solutions. It does not mean you cannot dream but being able to have something that is real and tangible. Too often you get caught up in the design of it and you forget that design’s great, but we need something real that people can experience, people can connect with because that is ultimately what it is about. It’s creating spaces for people to come together.
What drives your passion for designing churches?
Scott: I think for me, just being able to use my talents to hopefully honor God and being able to create spaces that further his kingdom. feel blessed to have been given some natural talents to help churches through this type of vocation. That’s what excites me most.
Mark: The number one driver for me is that eternal impact. It’s the fact that what we’re doing has a lasting impact and transformative impact on people that is beyond just us. Being able to create something that can help people find their way, find that connection to the kingdom is important. think the other more immediate side of it and why I enjoy working with ministry groups is the relational side because they’re people focused. They’re just good people and they’re fun to work with. There’s a relational side to creativity that’s so important to be able to have that back and forth. The project is a result of the process. And when it’s geared around people, and it is interactive and highly engaging, it is just better all around. It’s not fun. It’s joy, which is what we’re called to do.
What are the key challenges for designers and religious architecture today?
Scott: think it is mostly when churches have bigger dreams than their budget. How do we help
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“We are
choosing to be part of something that’s actively engaged in people and building something that’s beyond just ourselves.”
- MARK ASHCRAFT
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world, but it’s still very physical. What does that look like? How do we incorporate both? For me, it’s thinking through how we educate on what those current expectations are in terms of space and how to truly create that engagement that everyone is looking for. We’re called to build community, and so often, our churches, that’s what they’re about, but they still don’t quite fully understand the effect design or architecture can have.
What opportunities or trends are you seeing on the church campus?
Scott: The use of outdoor space now on the church campus and being intentional with how we are designing more of the indoor/outdoor functionality. I think that is going to be something we see more often. Also, the opportunity for these churches to be back in the city center so that they’re more integral into providing amenities for the community. Having retail and other types of mixed uses can further solidify their role within a community beyond just being a church.
Mark: Churches are specifically starting to become more engaged in the community. They are opening up and finding ways to serve needs that maybe aren not fulfilled. For example, what if there isn’t a community park space nearby and they have five acres out back. Let’s figure out how we can open that up and create space for people to enjoy. It is not just a weekend type thing. It is having more of those open to the community seven days a week. We want people on campus. We want to be in the community in which we serve.
them size their vision to what their true ministry needs may need to be and make it relevant for their specific congregation and community? I think sometimes churches don’t always have the clearest vision. They know they need to do something and so we help them really develop that vision with the understanding and context of how their spaces, both indoor and outdoor, may help them to better serve their community.
Mark: Another challenge, which is also an opportunity, is educating the differences in how people process information. It’s very different from how it used to be and just because you’ve done something a certain way for 50 years doesn’t mean that’s necessarily the way you need to do it moving forward. Those expectations have changed because people connect differently. It’s a digital
What is one of the most notable religious projects you’ve been able to work on and what lessons did you learn from it?
Scott: I would say feel like I’ve been very fortunate to get to work with churches nationwide and to see how ministries can thrive from Hawaii to California to New York. And so rather than just saying I’m going to pick one of those as my favorite, think what I like to see is the diversity of the congregations that we get to work with and help create a solution that’s specific for their community is probably what’s been most notable and that we can be adaptable, no matter where your church is located.
Mark: Well, agree with that. We’ve worked across many denominations from liturgical high church
Scott Nelson, AIA, LEED AP BD+C VP
Business Development Principal
years of experience Frisco, TX
Mark Ashcraft
Design Professional | Associate 23 years of experience Frisco, TX
Mark Ashcraft (pictured on left), Scott Nelson (pictured on right).
to non-denominational, evangelical, charismatic. It has been a wide range. And I’d say the things we’ve learned is that ministry is always about connecting with God and people. We are creating spaces that are unique to their way of doing ministry and their ecclesiology and truly understanding what that means and how it impacts the design of space. To me, it’s just been fun seeing across that diverse range of groups. Ministry is ministry, but everyone does it differently. There’s not one solution that fits all.
How do you balance function with the aesthetic appeal of a church?
Scott: I probably lean more towards making sure it’s functional with the aesthetics appropriate to who the church is trying to reach. If they’re trying to reach young families, then understanding what design elements like clean space, clear visibility, so I can see where my kiddos are at and what’s happening. Those type of things tend to weigh heavily on me when I’m thinking about design for just the specifics of a church. But to me it’s got to
be functional first and foremost. I typically would start with the floor plan, site plan and how’s it laid out and how’s it going to work before we put together a picture of what it could look like.
Mark: Well, I think on top of that, it’s also thinking through the best use of dollars through the lens of goals and priorities based on the vision of senior leadership. If they want to reach more young families in the community, we come up with specific objectives that we think will do that. We find the best use of those dollars to accomplish those goals. And if that’s scope or if that’s aesthetic appeal, it’s just thinking through that relationship and trying to be very purposeful with where you put the focus. There’s always a budget. And having a budget doesn’t mean it can’t be highquality design. You just have to be smart about it.
What does Parkhill’s mission of building community mean to you?
Scott: The building community mission speaks directly to what churches do and we want to
create a place for these churches to minister to their community. The building aspect of that for us may be a new sanctuary, but it could also be a new student building or a new parking lot. We’re able to help a church in whatever season that they’re in with whatever spaces they may need to serve their community. I’ve heard others say that you can’t have a great community without having your church in the community. Just like we do with schools and hospitals, we get to help them all serve their purpose. A church has a specific purpose in our communities and we’re able to help provide those resources to these churches to be successful.
Mark: When we talk about building community, what really speaks to me is that we’re called on an individual level to work together, to collaborate, to come together and have the diversity of opinions and ideas, that will find the best solutions for the clients we serve. How we all choose to work together is going to greatly influence the quality of the work that we produce and ultimately the impact those projects will have. So that’s what gets me excited when I hear building community.
Is there anything else you want the readers to know?
Scott: Yeah, let’s go back to that trends and opportunities, question. do think IPD [Integrated Project Delivery] is an incredible new trend that we’re starting to see as an opportunity to help churches be successful. So whether it’s been a small renovation or a massive greenfield site, new campus, the ability to change the behaviors of the architect, contractor, and owner so that the project success is most important, not individual success has really been exciting to see how that can help projects, help churches be part of the 20% that get things done. And so I really think it’s going to continue to provide opportunities for churches to be successful. In the past, they may have gotten caught in that scope to budget loop that they kept having an architect draw something and it kept coming in over budget and that cycle just wore out the funds and wore out the temperament of a church to want to do anything. And so, think that IPD process has really been a game changer to help us deliver projects, not just talk about projects.
Mark: I would echo something similar and add observation. It’s being able to not only listen to what’s being said, but also reading the room, seeing the body language and understanding what’s not being said. I think seeing how people interact, seeing how they connect, things like that. The other skill that comes to mind is being able to translate what’s being said into an idea. It’s important to understand when they’re describing an experience or they’re talking about what it is they’re trying to achieve, being able to, whatever it is that takes that and says, well, you could do this or you could do that, or just being able to explore those opportunities. I would say it’s those two things, being a keen observer and just being able to quickly translate that into ideas.
Importance of Churches
Mark Ashcraft Design Professional | Associate
for Eternity Making an Impact
Since its founding in 2000, Gateway Church has grown to see more than 30,000 weekly attendees in worship services each weekend. This project will allow the church to accommodate the growth of the local community and church attendance.
Parkhill worked with Gateway Church to develop and expand its Dallas, Frisco, Southlake campuses as well as adding new campuses in Justin and Houston. This $90 million, communityfocused project will have amenities aimed at meeting the needs of the local communities as well as the church’s congregation. Each campus will share similar amenities focused on reaching the community such as coffee shops, splash pads, playgrounds and outdoor community spaces.
This expansion will provide support for programmatic development and offer unique opportunities for interaction and experience. This strategy accommodates community gathering through multiple avenues and flexible programs and spaces that will evolve with the community’s and Gateway Church’s changing culture. For example, the facility’s lifestyle components were designed to be multifaceted to allow future growth and change options with minimal impact on the campus’ structure.
Parkhill has delivered each project through IPD, providing Gateway Church with an additional mechanism for understanding and controlling their project budget and schedule.
The Village Church
CHALLENGE:
Parkhill is working with The Village Church to provide professional services for the current campus improvements, including but not limited to, enlarging worship, children’s space, and building a multipurpose facility with 400-500 seats. The process will begin determining and defining programmatic elements for the site and building facilities as well as develop project goals, needs and assumptions. The process will go through many phases, starting with an interactive analysis to review various “what if” scenarios, and lead to a conclusion of which scenario is most desirable.
SOLUTION:
The design for the interior Kids Village expansion will include the demolition of an existing office suite on the ground floor. The ground floor expansion will include new classrooms, assembly space and security offices. AVL will be included in the assembly space as well as MEP updates throughout the scope of work. The second floor will include new storefront exterior windows, reconfigured office space and a library suite. Parkhill has also now begun the design process for a new parking garage on the campus of The Village Church Flower Mound.
Parkhill has given us the opportunity for our people to better connect with one another and also for our congregation to gather in two services instead of three. You feel like you are their only customer.
- ERIK KUYKENDALL, SENIOR PASTOR
Trinity Bible Church
CHALLENGE:
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Parkhill is providing architectural and engineering services for Trinity Bible Church in Willow Park, Texas for a new worship center and connector. The project will consist of an expansion and renovation of the current/existing campus and is anticipated to include a 600 - 800 seat worship center, partial interior renovation for an expanded building entry/Children’s check-in, and associated site work including parking lot adjustments and exterior canopies.
SOLUTION:
Parkhill is delivering the project through IPD, providing Trinity Bible Church with an additional mechanism for understanding and controlling their project budget and schedule. The project is estimated to be completed in 2026, with the design portion taking an estimated 54 weeks.
Cross Timbers Church
CHALLENGE:
The Cross Timbers Church Youth Facility envisions a versatile and inviting space that seamlessly integrates with nature. Cross Timbers Church hopes to have a youth center that fosters community, learning, and recreation in a harmonious and ecofriendly environment after the completion of the project.
SOLUTION:
The design prioritizes flexibility, safety, and sustainability across its various components. The worship space is adaptable,
featuring calming aesthetics and integrated technology.
Classrooms are designed as interactive learning spaces with ample natural light, while the lobby serves as a welcoming entrance and information hub. Support spaces are efficiently organized, including administrative areas and private counseling rooms. Playgrounds, a splash pad, and a turf lawn cater to diverse age groups, emphasizing safety and multifunctionality. Sustainability is woven throughout the design, incorporating energy-efficient systems, water conservation, and green elements.
LOCATION
Preston Trail Church
CHALLENGE:
Preston Trail Church was seeking to expand their education footprint to provide additional space for their growing Family Ministries (Nursery, Preschool and Elementary). Special design features included a Special Needs suite that provided specialized classrooms, quiet rooms and resource space to better serve kids with learning disabilities.
SOLUTION:
In addition to new classroom and assembly space, this addition allowed for new indoor and outdoor playground space. Phase three of the project consisted of professional services for the finish out of the second-floor admin area of the existing Children’s area. The site work includes new parking and a cover drop off at the Education Building.
LOCATION Frisco, TX DATE 2016 - 2024 (three phases)
Shoreline City Church
CHALLENGE:
Shoreline City Church Dallas has quickly outgrown their current White Rock campus and found an opportunity to purchase this building just 10 minutes away in Lake Highlands. This building, constructed in the early 1980s, has almost double the capacity of their current meeting site (accommodating 1,734 congregants), and a new surrounding community provides abundant ministry opportunities to continue their fast-paced growth.
SOLUTION:
The renovation of the children’s education wing was quickly established as Shoreline’s top priority by upgrading existing classrooms, providing a new indoor play area, and opening gathering spaces to convey that families are important to them.
A change in worship style set the stage for all-new audio, video, and lighting upgrades - paired with acoustical treatments to accommodate their robust worship experience.
“What we have seen working through this project with you guys [Parkhill] is the excellence and the love of Christ. People can literally walk in and feel the peace, feel the love, feel the beauty, that God portrays.
- JUDY BROWN, EXECUTIVE PASTOR
Stewarding Kingdom Resources with Wisdom
Did you know a staggering 80% of churches have developed plans that never get built? That means churches are spending thousands of dollars on buildings that never come to fruition. We have a better solution to help your church be wise with the money God has blessed your congregation with.
We all know the drill: design an elaborate master plan for your church that excites the congregation, realize you do not have the funds, need to accomplish smaller and more pressing projects first, put the master plans in the archives, and go back to the congregation with more fundraising. BUT what if it could be different?
WHAT IF pastors and elders could be confident when approaching the congregation with future plans of the church?
WHAT IF we could accurately give you the data to predict the next 5 or 10+ years of your church?
WHAT IF your church can accomplish projects on time and under budget?
Parkhill has adapted a delivery method called Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) to work in the faithbased market. In this delivery method all designers, engineers, and trades come to the table when design starts, each putting their profit at risk. This creates a situation where we can confidently tell you an estimated project timeline and project budget with more accuracy because every party is involved. We have now completed over $150 million in IPD projects on time and under budget. Parkhill is reinventing the process. We want to help churches experience a smoother, straight-froward process to grow, expand, renovate, and multiple. We promise it is possible. Be part of the change with us.
Love is the Foundation
by Nicole McBride
L is for the look of mid-century modern.
O is for the only center of its kind.
V is very, very extraordinary!
E is even more ministry and happy couples.
When we think of new construction, we typically think of architectural design and collaboration. But when the conceptual and physical foundation was laid for the design and construction of the XO Marriage Center in Southlake, Texas, love was clearly an inspiration.
Dan Searight, Parkhill Senior Architect, said, relationships and the hard work of nurturing marriage and families is how XO Marriage thrives. The organization was founded by Jimmy Evans, President of XO Marriage, and has offered Christian marriage counseling services and educational resources, including conferences and podcasts, for 30 years.
For the first time, the ministry has a permanent home at the XO Marriage Center located on the new Gateway Church Southlake Campus Expansion in Southlake, also known as the "Marriage Capital of the World." The building makes a statement located next to Highway 114 in view of travelers driving by each day.
“XO Marriage focuses on building strong lasting relationships, and with this new building think they are going to be able to impact so many more people and help to build a bigger community,” said Parkhill Interior Designer Regan Ortiz, IIDA.
The multi-level project encompasses 32,186 GSF and includes interior, exterior, and landscape architecture design. On the ground floor, a lobby and café
welcome visitors as they enter the building. The Walk of Champions leading up to the building and Wall of Champions lining the lobby honor donors who brought the project to life.
A podcast studio located behind a glass wall allows passersby to view episodes being recorded in real-time. There are a variety of podcasts associated with XO Marriage, including the Naked Marriage Podcast hosted by Dave and Ashley Willis. According to the XO Marriage website, this podcast has reached millions of couples worldwide and is one of the top Christian marriage podcasts in the nation.
There is also a large classroom on the ground level that seats 150 people and a counseling center that offers private counseling services. A large, landscaped garden and patio border the ground floor of the building. The second level is an entire floor of lease space, and corporate offices occupy the third floor. Design for the project began in 2019, and construction broke ground in 2021. The home of XO Marriage opened its doors in 2023 and is officially celebrating three decades this year.
“I admire their commitment to marriage and the family,” Dan said, “as well as the support their organization will be able to provide because of the new facility.”
““You [Parkhill] make it possible for people to come together for ministry and for worship. The people with all sorts of hurts, habits, and hang ups come to this place that you [Parkhill] helped design and make possible for ministry and for help.”
- SCOTT SANFORD, EXECUTIVE PASTOR COTTONWOOD CREEK CHURCH
