Entry number: B08024
Project Name: Salvation Army Hope Chapel
Building Type: Religious
Completion Date: June 24, 2008
Architect: JVC Architects
Building Location: 3667 Las Vegas Blvd., South, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Design Team:
Electrical Engineer: Intrepid Engineering
Landscape Architect: Southwick Landscape Architecture
General Contractor: Breslin Builders
Structural Engineer: Sierra Consulting Structural Engineers
Civil Engineer: Nevada By Design
Interior Designer: JVC Architects
Photographer: Sagalow Photography

Narrative/Project Description:
Type of Project: Chapel
Completion Date: June 24, 2008
Type of Construction: Type V
Materials Used: Insulated concrete walls, concrete floors, wood-framed roof, metal roofing
Building Area: 3,206sf Conditioned, 1,730sf Courtyard

Statement of Design Approach:
The Salvation Army has been operating in the Las Vegas Valley for more than 60 years, providing assistance to the population who need it most. The old campus chapel had aluminum siding without much ventilation, which Major William Raihl, director of the Las Vegas Salvation Army, referred to as "The Chicken Coop."

The firm's collaborative vision with Major Raihl was to demolish the old chapel and in its place create a community structure that would serve as a beacon of hope, peace and inspiration to the people whom the Salvation Army serves. The chapel would sit in the center of the campus in the same way that faith is at the center of the Salvation Army's mission. It needed to provide a true place of sanctuary, an escape from turmoil and stress.

While the budget was limited, the architects enlisted creativity and determination to design a new chapel that would make the Salvation Army and its congregants proud and would serve as a focal point for years to come.

Narrative:
Where "The Chicken Coop" once loomed, now stands a chapel with a simple, contemporary design. The new Hope Chapel features a sanctuary, small prayer room, library, support facilities, spire and courtyard.

The design incorporates a series of angled walls that tenuously slide past each other to create narrow slots which lead into a secluded courtyard. The courtyard provides a transitional space, offering an environment to decompress and prepare to enter the sanctuary. Upon entering the sanctuary, occupants are drawn to the glowing light of the glass cross over the Altar. The interior architecture, furniture placement, and gently rising floor, all lead toward the cross as the sanctuary's primary focus.

To address budget concerns, the gathering space requirements were incorporated into a central courtyard in lieu of an indoor conditioned space. This allowed for a smaller space to climate control and reduced the cost of construction. The firm also rose to the challenge of contending with the harsh exterior surroundings by integrating water features, a screened canopy, and square blocks of synthetic turf situated within concrete in the exterior courtyard. Not only do these elements assist in cooling down the brutal desert heat before the air enters the chapel for natural ventilation, they also mentally prepare visitors before entering a sacred space.

Although forward in design, the chapel cannot be viewed from the street. It is intended to create privacy within a dense urban landscape and to focus on the internal needs of the campus. While the chapel was kept simple to accommodate a small budget, the sanctity that was achieved helps its attendees in limitless ways.

Sustainable description:
Sustainability played a large role during the design process. While the Salvation Army wished to encourage simplicity and conservation in their design, there was also a need to extend their limited volunteer budget. The architects used various sustainable elements to help them achieve these goals.

The chapel runs north and south on the campus, reducing the amount of sunlight to which the building is exposed. Limited windows on the east and west sides of the building reduce heat gain while also limiting the amount of activity seen on the busy campus, minimizing distraction. The low-E, insulated glass windows are strategically placed to capitalize on daylight and conserve energy. The natural light allows the sanctuary to be used without artificial lighting.

Twelve-inch Arxx insulated concrete walls (R-50) and highly insulated roof (R-38) fight against the desert heat, allowing a more constant indoor temperature. Also, a natural air-cooling and ventilation system recycles air and cuts cooling costs considerably. The building is oriented to allow southern breezes to enter the building through the courtyard and past the cooling water features before it enters and flows through the sanctuary. As the warmer air rises it is expelled through a vent high above the Altar. This natural cooling effect reduces the need for mechanical cooling during moderate weather conditions.