St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church

MARKET
SPIRITUAL
METHOD
TILT-UP
St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church
THERMOMASS CASE STUDY
For this Charlotte church, the pairing of Tilt-Up concrete panels with Thermomass
insulation was the answer to its congregation’s desire for a space the was historically
accurate, energy-efficient and, above all, cost-effective.
A DREAM MADE CONCRETE
Honoring Captain St. Sarkis, one of the most beloved saints among the
Armenian nation, St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church was a longtime dream
of Charlotte’s fast-growing Armenian community.
LOCATION
Charlotte, North Carolina
COMPLETED
July 2005
FLOOR AREA
15,000 sf
THERMOMASS PRODUCTS
System NC
When planning began, the church’s congregation desired a building that
combined old-world aesthetics with cost-effective construction. Up to the
challenge was architect Glen R. Stephens of SAA Architecture LLC (SAA). With
over thirty years of experience, SAA has a long history of designing buildings
that are functional, striking, and innovative.
Because of tight budgets and daily use of the facility, energy efficiency was
crucial to SAA’s design. Additionally, the church would be a place of fellowship,
introspection and education, so comfort and serenity would be of prime
importance. Site-cast tilt-up sandwich panels insulated with the Thermomass
insulation products, proved to be the perfect solution for these complex issues.
PERFECT FIT
Above: Since 1980, Thermomass
products have been used to create
buildings that are energy-efficient,
durable, and cost-effective while
maintaining an environment that is
both quiet and comfortable.
Inset: Integral insulation from
Thermomass allows for a wide
variety of reveals, rustications,
and other finishes.
“As we explored Thermomass and its products, we soon discovered it was a
perfect application. Churches face long periods with limited hours of operation
interspersed with sudden periods of high occupancy,” says Stephens. “Building
codes mandate high quantities of outside air when these spaces are occupied,
and high-capacity HVAC systems are costly to operate.”
Heating/cooling sequencing needs were met using highly-efficient sandwich
walls insulated with Thermomass System NC, virtually eliminating energy
transfer through the building envelope, and thereby reducing the amount of
HVAC equipment used to maintain a comfortable interior environment.
“Combining CO sensing technology, limited thermal bridging, and the thermal
storage performance of Thermomass systems; we are able to design large
sanctuary and fellowship spaces that are extraordinarily efficient to heat and
cool,” says Stephens. “Limiting energy expenses is important and only growing
more so as energy costs are rapidly trending upward.”
HISTORICAL ACCURACY
With a church history spanning seventeen centuries, the congregation wanted
an appropriate look for the new building, but they also had a strict budget
to maintain. Actual stone would have doubled the cost of construction, and
an EIFS solution would not have provided the desired durability. Fortunately,
Thermomass walls can be built with a variety of textures and finishes.
For more information
about Thermomass and its
complete line of concrete
insulation products, please
call us at (800) 232-1748
or contact us online at
www.thermomass.com
For the exterior, Seretta Construction detailed and colored the wall panels to
resemble tuffa, a volcanic stone native to the Caucasus Mountains in Eastern
Europe. For the interior, SAA exposed the concrete wall as a finished surface.
“Concrete is very durable and can create interesting acoustical conditions for
churches looking for slightly reverberant spaces,” says Stephens”.
In the end, the church’s congregation was happy with the project’s outcome,
and the people of Thermomass were equally pleased to work with outstanding
partners to help this Charlotte community realize their dreams.
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