First United Methodist Church of Richardson

First United Methodist Church of Richardson outgrew their existing facilities on Beltline Road. They purchased 22 acres on Central Expressway, four blocks north of the existing location to expand their outreach, mission and campus. The new site with great visibility to 250,000 cars daily provided the expansion, space and location to dramatically increase the church’s presence in Richardson and all of north Dallas.

Working with Frank Welch and Associates, GFF created a new campus of a proposed 200,000 SF. The first phase of 126,000 SF included a new 43,000 SF sanctuary seating 1,300 in a traditional, yet modern form, a 47,000 SF building for nursery through adults, and a multipurpose family life center of 36,000 SF. The wood interior of the sanctuary recalls classic, wooden churches of early Texas, yet in a modern expression bathed in natural light. Stained glass windows depicting the Creation story animate and enliven the spacious volume. An eighth window illuminating the narthex represents eternity.