At Hope Church in Mason, Ohio, the youth program knows no bounds! Their new covered shelter will play host to many events in an extremely informal setting, designed to be welcoming to young minds curious about the faith.

While traditional interior classroom space is provided for the various youth programs, when the weather is favorable these programs can be moved outdoors. Special events, like a movie night with s’mores or a grill out and campfire, can be planned. Participants will enjoy outdoor amenities, such as the gas fire pit and nearby sports fields. The shelter includes a storage room at one end that also doubles as a projection wall, and can store tables, chairs, sports equipment, and other needed amenities.

The truss structure of the roof is left visible, with its members receiving a pigmented stain. Spaced widely, the trusses support purlins that are enclosed with decorative sheathing below for a tailored look, and conventional shingle roofing above.  Finishes were selected to tie the shelter into the new Gathering addition. The structure is supported on a set of columns that are trimmed in stained wood above a full-bed stone base. This rustic charm may prove to make the Shelter popular and sought after by adult members of the church, to be used for other kinds of events!

The Shelter is currently being constructed under its own building permit, even while work is ongoing for the large Gathering (Sanctuary) Addition. Childress & Cunningham is providing construction management services for each project, and will continue to do so when the next phase of renovations begins.