Proj Overview

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Peace Lutheran Church, has provided a space for worship and community since the 1960s. But because of its growing congregation, the church needed a better gathering space to accommodate the inflow and outflow of members between two Sunday services as well as an activity space to house a gym, family activities, and musical rehearsal space and classrooms.

Read more about this project in the Summer 2025 issue of Ascent.

PRECAST SOLUTION

One of the church’s building committee members, Joe Bunkers, president of Sioux Falls precast concrete producer Gage Brothers, planted the idea of a precast concrete structure. In the end, the committee decided to use precast concrete for the gym portion of the family activity center addition.

 

Project Team

Architect

TPS Inc.

Owner

Peace Lutheran Church

Contractor

McGough Construction

Structural Engineer

TPS Inc.

Precast Concrete Producer

Gage Brothers

Precast Concrete Erectors

Gil Haughan Construction

Photo Credit

Brian J. Rotert, Cipher Imaging

Key Project Attributes

  • The design and building teams coordinated to allow for future additions on the north side of the activity center, including a new entry that would connect to a future fellowship hall and classroom space.
  • The gathering space and activities space for musical rehearsals and classrooms will suit the growing congregation.
  • The orange precast concrete also provides the architectural feature of a recessed cross at the new church entrance.

Project/Precast Scope

  • For the gym, precast concrete provides both structure and façade, consisting of precast concrete wall panels and double tees.
  • Precast concrete insulated structural panels with architectural finish make up the activity center’s walls.
  • Churches typically don’t have a lot of extra money for maintenance, which also makes precast concrete an ideal building material.