New Life Youth Center

PROJECT OBJECTIVE

Design a New Life Youth Center to serve as a place of worship and growth for the community’s youth.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Ravatt Albrecht & Associates designed and engineered this youth center to consist of two adjacent buildings that encompass a common open courtyard and public gathering space, a two-story ministry office, youth lounge building, and a 600-seat auditorium.

Work included designing a center that was congruent with Pismo Beach’s coastal-feel, the adjoining medical and retail plaza, and neighboring residences. Nearby homeowners expressed concerns that a large institutional building would change the aesthetics of the area, so the architect designed the buildings to complement the characteristics of the site and region. The Pacific shoreline was the inspiration for the architectural design.

The result is a project with two buildings nestled into the hillside, minimizing view obstruction and buffering the activities in the courtyard from the neighborhood above. The curvilinear roofline and interior ceiling, constructed with customized Billo ceiling panels, reflect the natural movement of the nearby ocean. Interior materials echo the natural hues and textures of the coastal atmosphere, while the exterior complement the façade of the nearby medical buildings with similar earth tones. Stained glass and skylights welcome light into the building, creating a space that encourages a sense of spirituality and self reflection.

RAVATT ALBRECHT & ASSOCIATES SERVICES

Architectural design and mechanical and plumbing engineering.