Champion Forest Baptist Church of Houston isn't just active on Sundays and Wednesday nights. With a family life center, library, preschool and activities geared for all ages, the doors are open every day of the week. This steady flow of people through the facility and continued growth in attendance launched the design and construction of a 4,300 seat auditorium which serves as Phase 3 of the Champion Forest campus.

Acoustic Dimensions of Dallas - part of the design team for the first phase of the
campus - worked with Morris Architects, the design architect, on the conceptual design for the new facility. The project began by meeting with the client to learn what was important to them.

The church's existing worship facility, Phase 1 of the campus, was a 2,400-seat room flanked by two gymnasiums. The casual feel of the facility and sense of community generated by the space had a tremendous impact on the ministry style of the church. It was something that they didn't want to lose in the design of the new auditorium.

The design solution was a room that gives each person a visual sense of other worshippers. A deep balcony reduced the footprint of the space allowing for proximity to the stage so that the design works as a whole to support a feeling of being connected.

"The design of the room makes it very intimate," said Dick Hill, the minister of music for Champion Forest Baptist Church. "You sense the community and everyone feels close-both to the stage and to each other-which is amazing when you consider that it seats 4,300. For the first time, I can stand on stage and hear the congregation singing."

The sense of community is not only supported with the seating and sightlines, but also aurally with the acoustics. The acoustics of the room are designed to support congregational worship so that worshippers have a sense of the people around them. "Each room has its own unique acoustic signature," said David Kahn of Acoustic Dimensions. "In a large room like this, and one where almost everything is amplified through this powerful multi-channel sound reinforcement system, it is a great challenge to provide enough control, yet at the same time, create a responsive acoustical environment that encourages the congregation to sing and participate in worship."

Acoustic Dimensions and Morris Architects worked hand in hand so that the performance technologies were well integrated into the room and ceiling design. "One of the benefits of having a team approach early in the design is that the performance technologies (audio, video, lighting) are part of the room. Architectural, structural and electrical accommodations are planned to allow the church the flexibility to change things in the future," said Craig Janssen of Acoustic Dimensions.

The backstage was planned with large and small rehearsal spaces which double as staging areas for live events. "The way that the stage and loft are designed," commented Hill, "gives us great separation of instrumental and vocalist. In the past, we had a problem with percussion overcoming the choir and vocalists. The separation is now wonderful, and people tell us that the choir has never sounded better."

"Another thing that works really well is the curtaining. The orchestra is behind the stage curtain and a rear curtain closes off the choir loft. The congregation doesn't have to watch the choir or orchestra load in. The effect is tremendous," said Hill.

The loudspeakers are EAW MQ series in a left/center/right configuration to support both speech and music. Yamaha PM1D digital consoles were utilized at the front of house console position and at the onstage monitor mix position.

"Having a stage mix position has been a real plus. Not only has it taken the stress off the front of house operator, but it has also given a lot of confidence to our stage personnel because the monitor mixer is immediately able to address their needs." said Brent Johnson, associate pastor of audio-visual communications.