In response to growth issues and wear and tear on the existing Depression-era building, St. Paul's sought an architect to design a new, expanded church. The building committee chose Place Architecture as a firm that could not only meet technical and design criteria, but could also harness the ideas and talent of St. Paul's energetic congregation through a collaborative design approach.
In 1995 Place Architecture lead church members through a process of establishing a value system for the project, which highlighted goals for community service, artistic expressions of faith and a functional building to accommodate growing programs. The resulting design concept and budget became the basis for the capital campaign.
Perched just below the Cathedral of St. Helena on a slope overlooking downtown Helena, the site offers outstanding opportunities for views, community connections and drama. Daylighting, natural building conditioning, recycling of cherished elements from the existing church and durable construction will help make this a building which sustains the vital ministry of St. Paul's for years to come.