Church of Perfect Liberty

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Product

SL45

Application

Religious Institutions

Architect

M. Okamoto & Associates

Photographer

Lawerence Andersen

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Originating in Japan, the Church of Perfect Liberty has a growing number of adherents on the North American continent. For the Los Angeles parish, the organization elected to build a place of worship in Torrance, California.

As with many churches, this one had a question of how to adapt the space between times of lower attendance and peak attendance events. This created a challenge for the architect, Mike Okamoto of M. Okamoto and Associates. Ultimately, the designer and the church leaders settled on a NanaWall opening glass partition as part of the solution.

Creating Flexible Seating Option

“There were two sets of objectives which led to the specification of the NanaWall system,” says Okamoto. “The operational objectives, outlined by the client, included a flexible program for occasional increases in attendance. The church expects attendance to more than double for certain special occasions – well beyond the maximum capacity of about 200 – and the seating area needed to open up somehow to accommodate them.”

Energy Efficiency Through Airflow Strategies

Keeping in mind the second of the two goals, Okamoto continues, “As an architect, I also had a design objective to make use of the cooling ocean breezes from the nearby shore.” A failure to make use of all available ventilation and airflow strategies can create a stale, stuffy environment, especially during hot Los Angeles-area summers. A large increase in costs associated with cooling loads can come with that, also.

The project stakeholders chose to install NanaWall's SL45 Aluminum Framed Folding System at the end of the church's worship space, nearest an outdoor gathering area. “The opening creates a unique indoor-outdoor connection that has helped with the staging of many kinds of church functions and events,” says Okamoto

“The Opening Creates a Unique Indoor-Outdoor Connection That Has Helped With the Staging of Many Kinds of Church Functions and Events.”

Explaining his design, Okamoto remarks, “We installed the NanaWall system on the exterior wall at one end of the seating area, where there is an indent in the space’s U shape. When open, those seated outside are entirely connected to those inside, because there is no physical separation – a 100% opening,” he says.

By deftly blending the indoor and outdoor spaces, the NanaWall system creates flexible programming: a small space for typical gatherings, and a massive indoor-outdoor venue for major events.

“The only addition needed was a monitor screen for outside so that those parishioners could see the events inside,” notes Okamoto. “The opening also captures the cooling breezes, creating a welcome, natural ventilation.”

The cooling breezes have since become a typical element of worshippers' experience at Torrance’s Church of Perfect Liberty. Originally the plan had been for church staff to open and close the NanaWall system on those days when a larger-than-normal congregation is expected. But it turns out that the sturdy and simple-to-use partition avails itself to more frequent operation.

Ease of Use

“Since the Church was finished, the staff has begun using the NanaWall system much more often than originally planned,” Okamoto reports. “The staff has no trouble operating the folding panels.”

True enough: The client has been especially pleased with the addition of the monumental glass partition. “The opening creates a unique indoor-outdoor connection that has helped with the staging of many kinds of church functions and events. And it looks good,” according to the church.

What Our Customers Have to Say

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St. Kathryn's Church

The parish wanted to be able to separate a smaller chapel from the main body of the church for smaller weekday services and was able to achieve their goal with an energy efficient installation of a NanaWall system.

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