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Seventh‑day Adventist church returns with lowered roof, stone and brick detail; committee wants simpler canopy and refined windows
Summary
The church’s design team presented a revised civic building intended to read more like traditional church architecture with reduced peak height, stone base and arched vertical windows; staff and commissioners praised the reduced height but asked for simpler canopy design and for fenestration details that read as traditional divided lights rather
Representatives for the Franklin Seventh‑day Adventist Church returned to the Design Review Committee with a reworked design for a civic‑scale addition and plaza at 1753 Players Mill Road. The applicant, represented by Brandon Priddy, said the most recent design reduces peak height from previously approved plans and replaces a long horizontal canopy with a more vertical gabled facade and a narrower front canopy.
Planning staff (Elizabeth) told the committee the revised design lowered the building from an approved 51‑foot peak to a principal facade peak near 40 feet and that the new form uses brick and stone to create a defined base, middle and cap that better relates to the nearby historic Seward Hall. “The new proposed form features a central gable with a false front end,” she said, and noted that the project team has incorporated prior DRC feedback to create “a more traditional civic‑like structure.”
Commissioners complimented the design’s reduced height and vertical window proportions but flagged two details for further work. Several members said the proposed metal cantilever canopy over the primary entry felt visually heavy and contemporary; Commissioner Kathy recommended a simpler, flatter canopy that steps into the architecture, or a broader double‑vestibule that provides sheltered space without visually competing with the masonry gable. Commissioners and staff also asked the applicant to refine the large arched glazing so the vertical divisions, mullion width and jamb depth read as traditional divided openings rather than a single storefront plane. Commissioner Brian suggested custom divided‑light framing with narrower muntins or true divided lights to maintain a civic, traditional character.
Priddy said the design team drew inspiration from nearby civic buildings and sought to provide a gathering plaza while keeping the building’s mass subordinate to Seward Hall. Staff said additional detail drawings, including window specifications, canopy construction and view‑angle studies showing how the addition will appear from Seward Hall and the drive to the site, will be needed in the next submission.
No formal vote was taken; the committee directed the design team to come back with refined canopy details, window drawings that show muntin profiles and depth, and additional elevations showing material joints and the relationship of the new building to existing Seward Hall.
