The nearness of these areas to the central commons area was actually part of the design ’ s security plan . With glass entrances all around , plus many doors and windows , no space is left unseen . A wealth of security cameras further ensures this . Bathrooms are limited to children only , and no adults can pass through these buildings unless they have been vetted — parents and children ’ s ministry workers , for example .
Student spaces that defy the expected Previously , when students were loaded onto a shuttle bus to a designated youth campus across the street , Meador says it was awkward . “ The kids loved it , of course , but parents weren ’ t really excited about that ,” he laughs . Now , students have a place on the same side of the street as their families . Additionally , whereas youth spaces of the past generally presented rather “ loud ” in their design , the new student areas at Cross City are much more personal , inviting and comfortable . As Meador explains , this is partially because they ’ re multipurpose , serving as an international worship venue for churchgoers from Asia , Africa , and almost every other continent . At the same time , as youth spaces , these areas do need to be contemporary to be relevant . As such , they have an industrial chic appeal with steel , polished concrete , and modern furniture . “ Adding game stations , ping-pong tables and a gym clearly says ‘ students ,’” Meador says . “ So , the kids can look at all that and say , ‘ This is our spot .’” Perhaps best of all , the student facilities incorporate an exterior courtyard with a patio area and plenty of room to play sports . Lit up at night , it ’ s a real eye-catcher . As Meador explains , this idea was suggested by the HH team — a welcome one , since church leaders didn ’ t think they ’ d be able to work in outdoor space like this . Previously , this same area was used for golf cart parking and housed a storage shed . “ It turned out to be a real win ,” Meador says . “ I really love the way it looks . And it gets a lot of attention .”
QUICK FACTS ABOUT CROSS CITY CHURCH
Year established : 1904 Location of main campus : Euless , TX ( Dallas / Fort Worth ) Number of locations : 2 Staff : 65 Combined weekly attendance : 2,300 2021 budget : $ 6.5 million
True to plan , the Generations Project gives Cross City an attractive , intuitive building that significantly improves the guest experience and drives better connection between people of all ages . Best of all , an exceptional amount of flexibility and creativity ensured the project was finished in late 2021 on time and under budget . “ HH was great about suggesting things we weren ’ t thinking about ,” Meador adds . “ The result is phenomenal .”
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