Bringing New Life to Your Existing Space

by | Design-Build, Facilities, Podcasts

How many of us enjoy sprucing things up in our homes? Have you ever thought about how to do that in your church? Join Stephen Pickard, AIA, NCARB, as he talks with a panel of experts sharing ideas on enhancing and revamping your existing space with purpose and intentionality.

Panelists: Dr. Ken Willeford, MD, Ravi Waldon, Jacquelyn Block

Our Host: Stephen Pickard

Mr. Pickard is a Principal at GFF and has over 35 years of architectural design and management experience. For the last 20 years, he’s been developing a national practice specializing in church and faith based facilities design. He follows current trends and the most progressive thinking in regards to Worship spaces, Children’s Education spaces and meaningful venues for Community Connection. These projects incorporate both cultural and religious aspects into church campuses that strive to serve not only their members but also the larger community. Mr. Pickard is currently working with several churches around the country and in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. He also serves as Chairman of the Design Committee for Interfaith Design, the Interfaith Forum on Religious Art and Architecture and on the Dean’s Circle for the Texas Tech University College of Architecture Design Leadership Alliance.

GFF Architects – Creating Memorable Places

Our Guests:

Dr. Ken Willeford, MD

Dr. Ken Willeford was a physicist, attended medical school and is now Board Certified in both Anesthesiology and Interventional Spine. He has several scientific publications and also has patents for medical devices. Ken has been married for 30 years and has 6 children. For over 15 years, his creation science ministry has done presentations and authored books, and he’s here today to discuss his Creation Centers. This ministry transforms existing space in churches and schools into centers that teach the truth that evolution is not true and that God exists.

Creation Centers – Using logic and physical space to share the truth about creationism

Ravi Waldon, AIA, LEED AP

Ravi Waldon is President and Founder of Waldon Studio Architects, a national firm with three offices that has designed over 200 churches and projects in 28 states.  Mr. Waldon’s experience also includes senior and childcare facilities, housing of all types, office buildings, educational, retail, interior design, space planning, and historic preservation in both public and private sectors. His desire to partner with church ministries in designing and building facilities that meet the church’s vision drove him to begin his own firm in 2003. Waldon Studio Architects has received many awards under his leadership.  His goal in all projects is to capture the ministry’s vision and allow the design to be the best ministry tool possible. The firm’s motto: We exist to Create and Serve; it’s our calling, and it reflects our heart to serve our community and honor God in the process.

Waldon Studio Architects – Create & Serve: Spaces for a higher purpose

Jacquelyn Block, AIA, LEED AP

Jacquelyn Block is the GFF Architects Church Works Studio Director. She has over 15 years of architectural experience with church, faith-based and educational clients. With a passion for religious and educational facilities, Jacquelyn works closely with her clients in the initial programming and planning phase to identify key strategies to create facilities that support her client’s mission and values in an innovative and creative way. Her passion is not just about great buildings, but also about developing trusted and long-lasting relationships.

Her projects have won several design awards including Worship Facilities Solomon Award, Texas Construction Magazine’s Best Architectural Design and Outstanding Project from Learning by Design. As a Project Architect, she is integrally involved in the project from the initial phase of planning and capital campaign efforts, through design and construction.

Jacquelyn is a graduate of the AIA Emerging Leaders program, has participated as a design jurist at The University of Texas at Arlington and volunteers with several local organizations. She received her Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and her Master of Architecture Degree from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Church Works: Spiritually, Environmentally and Community Driven – The Church Works Studio is GFF’s team committed to creating compelling environments for Worship, Fellowship and Education that are spiritually, environmentally and community driven.

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