Three "Megachurches" Set the Pace in DFW

As members of an elite group of the largest churches in the nation, three Dallas-area churches influence others in architectural style, materials and even choice of building and design firms.

The Potter's House, Dallas, draws 28,000 worshipers weekly to multiple services in its 8,200-seat sanctuary. Designed and built by The Beck Group in 2001, the warehouse-sized facilities on 231 acres is constructed of structural steal and concrete tilt walls. On the exterior, tilt-wall panels were set in place-some measuring 60 ft. tall.

Inside, the sanctuary uses 185-ft. roof joists in "flying buttress" style to hold a 200,000-sq.-ft. ceiling over the massive worship area. Crews installed 900,000 total sq. ft. of drywall. Balconies on three of four sides are cantilevered for support.

The building and additional renovation to an existing structure had a pricetag of $32 million. Potter's House rents out its facility for conventions and concerts.

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Fellowship Church, Grapevine, has constructed a 225,000-sq.-ft. suburban development complete with a 4,000-seat sanctuary, bookstore, broadcast studio, education and meeting space, administrative offices and two lakes. Buildings combine a steel structure with concrete tilt-wall panels. At a total cost of $31.5 million, the church buildings serve 18,000 members.

The design reflects leaders' desire to appeal to contemporary gravitation to retail malls and theaters. Construction started in 1998 with the sanctuary and involved work by Beck as architect and Julian P. Barry General Contractors, although all subsequent work came from Beck. Construction was completed in 2002.

Fellowship Church has announced plans to open a branch location in the Dallas area, which will broadcast live worship services from its Grapevine location. The Plano site, coming online in 2005, involves the $4 million renovation of a 113,000-sq.-ft. building into a 1,500-seat facility. The church is also considering opening a second branch.

Prestonwood Baptist Church, Plano, has completed two phases of its master plan, resulting in nearly three-quarters of a million sq. ft. of church space. That includes a 7,000-seat sanctuary, education space, children's center, fitness center, a 600-seat chapel, food court and a 150-ft. high prayer tower.

The structures show an integrated mix of geometric styles using stone and masonry veneer and EIFS, and is trimmed in aluminum and glass. Built by Manhattan and designed by The Beck Group and HH Architects, Dallas, the campus development totals $80 million. Work began in 1997.

About 1.7 million ft. of drywall - the area of about 37 football fields-was used in phase one alone. A series of stained glass windows in the main atrium depict images from each book of the Bible. The church also built a 62,000-sq.-ft. preschool and grade school facility.

Currently, crews are building the church's 123,000-sq.-ft. upper school educational facilities, priced at $11 million.

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