While church construction may not be an obvious niche for ICFs, they’re doing very well in this sector. A number of high-profile ICF churches have been completed recently, and many more are under construction

John Hatfield thinks he knows why. “The church is paying not only for the construction, but also the long-term ownership costs,” he says. “Because our product saves so much on the owner’s
long-term energy costs, we are a very attractive option.”

Hatfield is Quad-Lock’s sales manager for the Rocky Mountain region. But the company has been so successful getting religious construction jobs that he now also serves as “Worship Facilities Specialist” for the company.

“Churches are a major area of growth,” says Jon Hansen, who promotes commercial ICF use as part of his job at NRMCA. “Anywhere people are making a buying decision that will last for generations, they’ll move towards ICFs.”

Efficient and Green

One of the first projects featured in this magazine was Cornerstone Assembly of God in Bethalto, Ill. (below right). Gary Hartsock, the church’s representative for the project, says energy efficiency was a major factor in the decision. While under construction, “they heated 36,000 sq. ft. with rooftop HVAC units, and the highest heating bill was $834,” says Allan Anderson, technical consultant on the project. The average for the winter was just over $750. Once the building was completed, they switched to a radiant hot water heating system that saves even more.

A few high-profile church construction projects have also highlighted the sustainable aspect of ICF construction. For instance, in Greensburg, Kan., the tornado-ravaged town featured in last issue, has three churches, all of them built out of ICFs. The deciding factor there was both disaster-resistance and sustainability, as the entire town is trying to become a showpiece for sustainable construction.

Project Name: Cornerstone Assembly of God
Location: Bethalto, Illinois
Size: 54,000 sq. ft.
Type: Church
Form Type: Amvic Reversible Block with 8-inch concrete core

Volunteer Labor

But even for more mundane goals, ICFs are a great fit. Many church projects are built with volunteer labor, so easy-to-use ICFs have a considerable advantage.

Pinegrove Church in Kingston, Ontario (opposite page far right), for instance, chose to build with ICFs partly because the ICF installer agreed to allow church members to help out as unpaid volunteers. The design was not particularly simple. Unusual angles in the front wall had to be hand-cut and carefully braced. Non-square window openings and stepped sill plates required extra attention as well. Even the baptismal font was made from ICFs.

The church members, however, seem to have done well. With only two trained installers on site, 10,000 sq. ft of ICF walls—up to 32 feet high—were placed and poured without any problems. According to Jim Buttrey, vice president at IntegraSpec ICF which supplied the forms for the church, all of the walls are within an 1/8” of plumb.

The entire project was completed for about $85 per square foot.

Nearby Christ Church Parish Centre (above) also used volunteer labor from the local congregation to do the ICF install. “The building committee members wanted a wall system that could reduce external noise, provide long-term energy efficiency and fit into a historical setting,” says Buttrey. “IntegraSpec delivered everything the church needed.”

Sound Attenuation

Noise reduction was also a factor for Sun Valley Community Church in Gilbert, Ariz. The three separate areas—worship hall, mezzanine, and classrooms—would be in use simultaneously. “Installing ICF between the three components of the building has provided a sound barrier allowing it to be used for many purposes,” states Randy Daniels at Arxx, who provided the forms for the church. 

The building covers an imposing 84,000 sq. ft., with wall heights of 34 feet and in some areas as high as 50 feet. Conditioning such a huge volume of space in the Arizona heat was a major consideration. ICFs resolved that issue with their highly efficient combination of concrete and foam. 

Project Name: Pinegrove Church
Location: Kingston, Ontario
Wall Area: 10,000 sq. ft.
Completion Date: 2006
Form Used: 8” IntegraSpec
Cost: $85 per sq. ft.
• Used Volunteer Labor to Minimize Costs
• Custom cut angles on walls topping 30 feet
• Unusual Window Openings
• Stepped Sill Plates
• ICF Baptismal Font

Architectural Considerations

The Sun Valley Church also demonstrates the difficulties ICF construction can overcome. The large windows, tall walls, and ornate pilasters at the front entrance were all formed with ICFs. Daniels adds, “This was a first-time Arxx project for the architect. They have continued to use Arxx ICF on additional church projects.”

The soaring arches and towering ceiling associated with traditional religious architecture can also be achieved with ICFs. Centuries ago, church architects like Sir Christopher Wren designed cathedrals to last for centuries. That tradition was carried to the New World by Spanish fathers, who built missions and chapels from adobe, many of which are still standing.

When the Holy Cross Catholic Church, in Porterville, Calif., needed a new building, they wanted to honor both the look and durability of those old adobe worship centers, without compromising on modern amenities. Once again, ICFs fit the bill.

Project Name: Sun Valley Community Church
Location: Gilbert, Ariz.
Type: Church, Mezzanine, and Classrooms
Size: 84,000 sq. ft. (floor)
ICF Use: 52,000 sq. ft. (walls)
Height: 34 feet, reaching 50’ high on mezzanine
ICF System: 8” core Arxx
Total Construction: 300 days (Oct 2006 to Nov. 2007)
ICF Start-to-Finish Time: Approx. 6 months

“Our main focus of the church design was to pay homage to… the historic missions scattered along the west coast of California,” notes the architect. 

The general contractor was a member of the parish, but he had no previous experience with ICFs. The ICF manufacturer, Arxx, hosted a training class for his crew, the masonry contractor, architect, and others on the construction team. They worked together to maximize efficiency. The window openings and wall plate heights, for example, were designed to correspond exactly with the heights of the ICF courses. 

ICFs also helped resolve one of the most difficult design issues. The complex steel trusses spanning the vaulted ceiling areas of the church are extremely heavy. Clear spans over the nave and transepts are 58 feet. Hip trusses over the altar area span 82 feet. Fortunately, the reinforced concrete core of ICFs easily support the weight of this steel.

Forms used on the exterior walls of the church have an eight-inch concrete core. With all interior & exterior wall finishes considered, the total wall thickness is more than 14 inches.

Mark Schneider, a former marketing manager for Arxx, notes, “This will greatly reduce the monthly operating costs of the church where heating and cooling is concerned.”

Project Name: Holy Cross Catholic Church
Location: Porterville, Calif.
Total Building Size: 18,500 sq. ft.
Cost: $4.2 million
Project Start-to-Finish Time: 540 days (18 months)
Form Type: 8” Arxx

Conclusion

Whether it’s energy efficiency, lower labor costs, structural and architectural considerations, or something else, ICFs are a great fit for church construction. They have been used to build monasteries and youth retreats as well.

Nicholas Nikiforuk, designer of the Christ Church Parish Centre, sums up the advantages ICFs offer when he said, “Our goal in building this new facility was to construct a building that would last for generations to come. We wanted a structure that was extremely energy efficient and durable to reduce future operating and maintenance costs. Through grants, fund raising and donations from the congregation, we were able to raise funds for our ‘millennium church.’ Originally we needed more space for our growing parish, however we have quickly realized the added benefits of a dry, warm, functional building.”