St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church sought the design and planning guidance of Grace Hebert Curtis Architects to develop a master plan and program that would meet the active, diverse and fast-growing congregation’s current and future needs.

A four-phase master plan was developed with continuous collaboration and feedback from the parishioners. The designers and stakeholders elected to concentrate Phase I on major renovations to the existing church structure. Grace Hebert Curtis Architects developed a beautiful, warm and modern worship space that adhere to the congregation’s principles of design:

• Create a cohesive plan while maintaining the small campus atmosphere
• Improve the existing campus architecture
• Enhance the quality and function of the worship space
• Create outdoor spaces to facilitate fellowship among parishioners

While embracing the existing church architecture, the design team made significant improvements to the interior and exterior, successfully creating a worship space that maintained the integrity of the original structure while introducing a contemporary architectural vocabulary. The project added a handmade altar and a permanent baptismal font, but also dedicated space to the church’s cherished stained-glass windows, statues, Stations of the Cross and crucifix. Rich woods contrast a soft interior color palette while natural light fills the space. The project also made the interior feel more welcoming and accessible via an updated audio system and video projection area.