Serving over 15,000 souls and counting
The design program for Centro Familiar de Adoración (CFA) called for a new worship center and related facilities that could eventually seat 20,000 to be built in phases. Pastors Emilio and Bethany Abreu were not just looking for a large space to seat lots of people, but also a space that would allow for intimate and personal worship.
A space for intimate and personal worship.
Phase one building includes a fan-shaped main worship space with two wraparound balconies with seating for 9,000 to 12,000 people, depending on the seating configuration.
The spaces include dynamic state-of-the-art sound, lighting and video systems that allow for both a creative and meaningful worship experience.
In addition to the main worship space, there are classrooms, offices and an administrative suite, a second smaller 1,200-seat chapel, other required support spaces, an inviting four-story atrium/entrance/lobby, and a K-8 Christian school.
The entire facility is constructed atop an 800-car parking garage.
Overcoming some unusual challenges
The construction process involved overcoming a number of unusual challenges. The roof structure, which spans almost 300 feet, was designed as a space frame truss system that could be erected in small sections. The two-level subterranean parking garage had to be excavated and storm water run-off had to be handled before the massive footings required to support the structure could be poured.
As the architect’s favorite construction photo of all time shows, the building is truly designed to be expandable. Shown in its partially completed stage with the wall in the foreground yet to be erected, the photo reveals half of the future full masterplan facility. The two balconies overhang the floor below by seven meters and the building structure, except for the roof, is poured-in-place concrete frame with masonry infill. The main worship space, with its 9,000 seats and 35 sets of exit doors, is designed to be emptied in less than 15 minutes.
Project scope
CFA is Paraguay’s largest church and ministers to more than 15,000 souls weekly in multiple service formats.
473,000 square feet of new construction.
Completed in 2009.
Cost: $16 million U.S.