The Jabez Project: Phase One

Mapos was contacted by the Gethsemane Baptist Church of Hollis, NY to create a design concept and vision document for a new church and community space dedicated to after-school youth programs, adult education and cultural enrichment. The program requirements included a sanctuary for 200 parishioners, a half-court basketball gym, classrooms, a nursery, and new administrative and kitchen facilities.

A tight zoning envelope required the new spaces to creatively adapt to program use depending on the momentary needs of the Parish. Mapos worked directly with the trustees to develop a schedule of use for a flexible space, allowing the team to develop when a classroom would become a dining facility, and a sanctuary would transform into a gymnasium, and so on.

Additionally, Mapos worked with the client to create spaces which could be utilized for open community and private events, leveraging the hidden natural beauty of the suburban site by creating flexible connections to the outdoors.