Church by the Sea

Overview

Church by the Sea is a worship community that initially formed in 1945. Located in Bay Harbor, Florida, the church has distinguished itself through a civic-minded program which has attracted a diverse, intergenerational congregation with a modern approach to services and community outreach.

Program

WSDG was tasked with designing and implementing a full acoustical design, lighting design, technical interior design and A/V systems design & integration package for the entire, three-story facility. WSDG collaborated with the architectural firm Zyscovich to achieve an efficient design that would meet the needs of the congregation functionally and aesthetically.

Design

The Church by the Sea complex is a brand new, ground-up build. The versatile, multi-level facility was designed to meet the congregation’s worship needs as well as provide ample community gathering and educational spaces. The Sanctuary space has configurable A/V and lighting systems to accommodate the production needs required for every service and ceremony that the church offers. It also can easily expand into the adjacent Fellowship Hall for a larger assembly configuration. The main Sanctuary can also be set up for live video streaming.

As you continue into the other floors you will find a diverse mix of spaces that include both working and multiple activity areas open to the community. The second floor features a full recording studio with a control room, live room, and multiple iso booths. There is a dedicated children’s area also found on the second floor for both the children and youth to utilize during service or for special programs. The third floor includes a secondary gathering space called the Chapel for a more intimate setting, this particular space has a circular shape that aims to create continual movement for a serene experience making this unique both architecturally and acoustically. The third floor is made up of a fully integrated conference room with live streaming access. It also has a larger lecture hall that can be outfitted for film screenings and other events. Additional spaces include offices, administrative spaces, multi-purpose function rooms, a dance and yoga studio, a handball court, an outdoor terrace and more.