St. Joseph Catholic Church in Gluckstadt, Miss.
Posted
11/2/2011
St. Joseph Catholic Church in Gluckstadt,
Miss., had its beginnings more than a century ago as a
rural parish church serving a handful of parishioners in rural
Mississippi. Today, the church is a growing congregation whose
needs have outstripped the old parish church that had served it for
more than half a century.
Parishioners recently completed construction on a new church
complex designed by the late Michael Barranco and his colleague,
Scott Carpenter, that reflects the functional elements of a modern
urban church design but hints at its roots with its board and
batten exterior and its new standing seam metal roof.
"We tried to nail together a church layout with all the
characteristics of modern day worship but still reflect its origins
as a rural type of church," notes Carpenter. The result is a
traditional look that pays homage to its origins but also
incorporates elements of modern worship including lots of green
space and courtyards and a large gathering space within the
building. Today the complex houses a sanctuary, a family life
facility and classrooms. Sustainability was also an issue, notes
Carpenter, pointing to the use of Hardyboard for the walls and
standing seam metal panels for the roof.
The architects chose 21,500 square feet of Perth Amboy,
N.J.-based Englert Inc.'s 18-inchwide 2000 Series profile in Slate
Grey for the roof. Malouf Construction, Greenwood, Miss., was the
general contractor and Mid-State Roofing Co., Pearl, Miss., was the
installer. Modern church reflects rural roots.
Englert Inc., www.englertinc.com