Immanuel Lutheran Church

Located on the west side of Lethbridge in a vibrant growing community, Immanuel Lutheran Church established a new facility to accommodate the growing needs of its congregation. This church provided the greatest amount of volunteerism, donated material, and input that ARFAI has experienced in 20 years of practice.

The installation of the rock façade provided excitement as church members including elderly women, and children worked together under Principal Architect Alvin Fritz, who led the crew from his background as a masonry foreman. Community members were also enticed to join, one with masonry knowledge that assisted in the leadership. The realization of the project is a stellar example of generosity, community spirit, team work, and volunteerism accomplishing a dream. This massing of the building was designed as three intersecting pyramids. The northeast houses the sanctuary, and the southwest the fellowship hall. The central pyramid houses the narthex, and allows access from either pyramid. The 3 intersecting pyramid forms, interdependent yet unique components represent the Trinity.

Collaboration with strong, capable client representation afforded a very functional space that is true to the Lutheran tradition down to the sacred space called the chancel within the sanctuary. Measuring up and providing as-built drawings for the historic Casavant organ previously installed at their Sixth Avenue building in 1954, and providing the necessary infrastructure for its successful installation in the new building, presented an interesting design challenge.