A pre-engineered steel building supplied by American Buildings Co. was divided into five steel building structures with varying heights to create an intricate design for Shepherd of the Valley Catholic Church, completed in September 2013.
General contractor S&B James Construction Management used metal to create the column-free high ceiling in the main chapel. The church features a bell tower element, a heavy timber entry canopy, traditional horizontal siding and trim, a metal roof of dark bronze roof panels, craftsman light fixtures, a stone veneer base, and eaves with a painted board and bead wood finish. It uses natural daylighting from high clerestory windows and high-efficiency windows, and LED lighting reduces electricity. Additionally, the building is zoned to allow the HVAC system to run in areas that are occupied while equipment serving other unoccupied zones is off. The varying heights, decorative, heavy timber tresses and gypsum board ceilings suspended from the steel roof kept the building consistent with local architecture.
Shepherd of the Valley Catholic Church replaced a small fruit stand that was originally converted into a church many years ago. The 15,000-square-foot church includes seating in the main chapel for 590 parishioners, a day chapel which seats 60, sacristy, storage areas and meeting rooms.
S & B James Construction Management, an American Buildings authorized builder, received first place in the 2014 American Buildings Co.’s Excellence in Design Awards in the church and religious category.
General contractor: S&B James Construction Management, White City, Ore.
Architect: David M. Thruston, AIA, NCARB, White City
Metal building/metal roof panels: American Buildings Co., Eufaula, Ala., www.americanbuildings.com
