Board approves parish-hall renovation at Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, tables larger conference center design

Poole and Company Architects presented a two-part project for the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd and the Diocese of Alabama: a renovation of the church’s parish hall and a new conference center behind the existing church. The board approved the parish-hall renovations but tabled the conference-center design to refine massing and detailing that the board said currently resembled the historic church too closely.

Architect John Poole said the parish-hall work will restore interior function with a new kitchen and updated meeting space, replace windows with double-hung units more in character with the building, and provide an accessible route with a new ramp that will also serve the church. Poole said the front porch of the parish hall will be removed and rebuilt with a shed roof and columns to recall the original porch form.

Poole described the conference center as a rear addition intended to provide larger meeting space, a warming kitchen and a transparent glass connector to the original church; the project team has phased the work so site paving and parking would be part of phase two. Board members raised concerns about the conference center’s scale and decorative detailing, asking the team to simplify the addition so the historic church remains the dominant visual element. Members also asked questions about stormwater management and confirmed the team would engage a civil engineer for pre- and post-development water management.

The board voted to approve the parish-hall renovations “as submitted” and to table the conference center for redesign and further review. Project representatives said they will return with revised drawings for the conference center and will proceed with the parish-hall work.