Northern Heights Baptist Church

Norfolk, NE

Northern Heights Baptist Church purchased a hilltop site visible from interstate 81 in Norfolk, Nebraska and partnered with Barnes Design Group to design an entirely new facility on it as their home.  Efficiency in both floor plan layout and construction methodology was paramount to the success of this project, keeping the frigid, below-zero winter temperatures in mind. Utilizing insulated tilt-up concrete panels and steel roof framing, the building’s sloped metal roof forms and careful massing successfully invoke a vernacular architectural style that feels completely at home in a small mid-western town.

In just 22,000 square feet, the compact floor plan wraps a full nursery, indoor children’s play area, eight classrooms, a dedicated youth room, administrative offices, a kitchen and table/chair storage space around a light-filled 400 seat multi-purpose sanctuary, and still allows intuitive access to all areas by way of a central lobby with large toilets and a soaring ceiling.