Brookfield Lutheran Church Plans Come Full Circle

Brookfield Lutheran Church has added a two-level Sunday school annex to its existing building, completing plans for the structure built in the 1960s. Funding difficulties required scaling back the original design. The 18,000 square foot addition provides 16 new classrooms with  accommodations for more than 320 parishioners, a library and bookstore.

Tying the building's new and original semi-circular structures together to form a full circle was a technical challenge. The finished addition completes a concentric circle around the ring-shaped church proper. Since everything is built on radians rather than square corners, dimensioning of materials - matching up with the church's large semi-circular skylight, in particular  - required a flexible approach to problem solving.

To underpin the existing building, connect it to the new construction and build the lower level, we installed thirteen helical piers and poured a concrete wall under the existing footings. 

Due to sandy ground conditions, the piers had to be screwed in to a depth of 45 to 50 feet. We also installed a dewatering system to lower the site's high water table approximately two feet.

The $2 million project, designed by Hammel, Green & Abrahamson Inc., also encompassed a new entrance, installation of an elevator, renovation of the kitchen/serving area, expansion of existing restrooms, and the addition of four new ones. Mechanical work included HVAC, fire protection and plumbing systems, all sized and installed with future additions in mind.

Gary Kilvinger, the church building committee chairman, said that volunteer parishioners supplied many hours of painting and floor finishing labor for the project. In addition to our own work, we supplied scaffolding and safety equipment for the volunteers. "The project itself has been a good project, and Beyer Construction has been good to work with," Kilvinger said. 

After more than 30 years, the award-winning design of Brookfield Lutheran Church is now complete. The two-story semi-circular addition provides 16 Sunday school classrooms, a library and bookstore, elevator, new entrance and other amenities.  Volunteer parishioners made the project a very personal enterprise, donating their painting and floor finishing skills.