Emmanuel United Reform Church

Keegans provided CDM co-ordination services for a new community link building to connect an existing 1920’s United Reformed Church building and a Victorian Church hall.  

Incorporating a new entrance that is simultaneously welcoming and spiritual, without being overtly denominational, this building which is the heart of the local community is being updated for the 21st century.  Including an Elders Meeting Room and a Welcome Foyer with additional DDA compliant WC facilities, the new entrance creates a level transition between the worshiping space of the church and the secular rooms that are within the hall.  The new link building encourages the use of peripheral space in a contemporary manner, whilst retaining a deferential aesthetic against the existing buildings.

The scheme has been designed with a sedum roof to certain elements, and super insulation is to be used wherever possible.  Lead free eco-paints will be used throughout the scheme to correspond to the decorations of the existing building.

The church is being utilised during the construction works so segregation and walkways as well as visitor parking are major issues which were dealt with in the very early stages of the works.  Due to the design of glazed roofing, additional advice was given on fall arrest systems to be installed for the safe cleaning of the glazing.  Also means of access to the glazed area needed to be identified as it is located in the middle of two existing buildings.