Project Update: Highlands Presbyterian Church

To support their growing congregation, Highlands Presbyterian Church of Ridgeland, Mississippi has selected CDFL + LS3P to lead the effort in planning a new sanctuary addition and phased renovation of their existing education space.

The new sanctuary will seat 1,000+ congregants and connect the new facility to the renovated education building through a multi-level ministry concourse. The multi-function concourse will serve as a new entry and fellowship hall. It will be outfitted with a warming kitchen, café, an informal education space, as well as small group gathering spaces.

The existing education building will be renovated to accommodate the education ministry by creating synergy between the spaces. The renovation will enhance the children and youth ministries by providing spaces that will enhance the mother’s morning out program and nursery services. There are also new spaces being created to accommodate the actively growing adult education ministry.

As part of the planning process CDFL helped guide a visioning session with the steering committee and was able to establish goals for the new facility. Those goals included:

• Have more space to be ‘us’
• Keep the character and feel of our church
• Worship center sized for the growth of the congregation
• Reverent worship center that reflect our rooted traditions
• Provide a welcoming presence for visitors
• Fellowship spaces to gather between activities
• Space for different generations of congregants to engage
• Place for intimate services
• Identifiable as a church
• Graciously accommodate the children and youth ministries

Construction is to start early in 2014.