St. John The Evangelist – Pulte Family Life Center

Campus expansion to accommodate the church’s community engagement model of moving beyond a place of worship.

Churches provide much more to the local community than just a traditional place of worship. They are now being designed to serve as a gathering place to host youth groups, adult education classes, charity events, concerts, and more. St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church located in Naples, Florida set out to do just that by expanding its campus to include two gymnasiums, a theatre, multipurpose rooms, a café, playgrounds, shuffleboard courts, and a basketball court.

The Pulte Family Life Center is part of the church’s engagement model of persistent programs for the local community providing sports and wellness, arts and music, and social and spiritual activities for all ages. The design features a contemporary interpretation of the campus’ historic architecture with finishes selected to give the space an industrial feel. A 30′ glass wall runs along the full length of the basketball court featuring an expansive view of the campus’ lake. Additionally, the basketball court was designed to easily be converted into a theater. An open mezzanine above the gym is utilized as a gaming and activity area, while the café encourages a sense of community and provides yet another inviting space within the facility.