Designed by Henry Hefty, First Congregational United Church of Christ was built of stone in the Venetian Gothic Revival style in 1891. Located along the South Park Blocks in downtown Portland, the Church is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places for both is memorable architecture and its key role in early Portland history.

A goal of the renovation was to adapt the chancel to a growing request to use the space as a stage for outside performing groups. The lighting, acoustics, and chancel area was to be improved and enhanced for flexibility while maintaining the historic integrity of the space. All lighting was to remain hidden from view and to avoid ÒtheatricalÓ lighting supports. Sound was enhanced through the implementation of additional speaker systems and the design of acoustical decorative elements that augmented the sanctuary space.

• Project size: 20,000 sf
• Award price: $600 thousand
• Space types: Religious
• Project objective: Renovation of the existing building and adaptive reuse for performance space
• Building features: Oldest religious facility in Portland. 1891 construction. Stone exterior, fir floors, decorative plaster work