This article is reprinted from the February 23, 2008 edition of The Signal, a local newspaper in Santa Clarita
Real Life Church Thinks Green
Landscaped roof, less water usage and longer lasting materials highlihgt design
2/23/2008
Tammy Marashlian, Signal Staff Writer
When the leaders of Real Life Church began brainstorming ideas for the design of their
future home at the Bridgeport Marketplace in Valencia, they figured it would look like
the standard worship center.
But then they came across their last design option from Vision Builders Group, a
Sylmar-based construction company that specializes in churches.
Although Vision Builders Group had the most expensive plan, initially totaling about $8
million, its underground design and landscaped roof inspired the Valencia church.
Now three years later, Real Life Church is continuing its ambitious project of creating a
"green" church that not only gives back to the environment but also to the local
community.
The Design
With its innovative design, Real Life church strives to make a difference in the local
area.
"We wanted to do something for the community," Jeremy Vanderlinden, executive
pastor of Real Life Church said.
More importantly, Real Life's plan will create anappealing view for the homeowners
above the McBean Parkway shopping center as the sight of air conditioning units on
the top of the building will be replaced with the landscaped roof.
"We were being good neighbors and good examples," Vanderlinden said.
Vanderlinden said the roof's design has been proven and they will be taking measures
to waterproof the location and include drainage for rainy conditions.
Additionally, to prevent people from walking on top of the roof, Vanderlinden said they
will most likely install a fence where the roof slopes down to meet the ground.
The planned design, however, goes beyond a roof dotted with trees and grass,
because the entire building will integrate itself into the environment.
The current designs show that the only open wall will be in the front of the church. All
of the remaining walls of the 37,000-square-foot center will be built underground as a
way to control the building's heating and cooling costs, the pastor said.
Dario Pascarelli, partner of Vision Builders Group and project manager, said the design is "cutting edge" and not often seen with churches.
As for being kind to the environment, Pascarelli said the church will create a product
that doesn't have a negative impact on the community.
"It's very unique," he said.
Green-Certified
As the church develops its plans by including waterless urinals and materials that last
longer, Vanderlinden said they hope to reach the gold standard for Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design, a certification given by the U.S. Green Building
Council denoting environmentally-friendly designs.
This certification will make Real Life one of the first churches in the United States and
the only church in California to have this certification, Vanderlinden said.
Pascarelli said the design certification brings many requirements, ranging from how
materials are recycled during construction to how the building will be lit and shaded in
design.
Bumps in the Road
But implementing the design will be difficult. After three years of planning,
Vanderlinden said the building is expected to cost more than $2 million more than
originally anticipated.
Additionally, Vanderlinden said they first hoped that the building would be completed
by Easter 2009.
"That would kind of be our dream," he said.
However, he is unsure if that will be possible and hopes construction will be completed
by June or July of 2009.
A Big Change
Regardless, building a new church will be a major change for the 1,200-member
congregation.
Currently Vanderlinden said Real Life holds its 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday services
at the gym of West Ranch High School in Stevenson Ranch. The 7-year-old church also
rents out classrooms when more room is needed.
Although increasing membership is a goal with the new church, Vanderlinden said, "We
just want a permanent facility that we can call home."
With a bigger center, Vanderlinden said Real Life will help others local churches that
need a place to worship.
For the community, he hopes to initiate festivals at the center open to all of the Santa
Clarita Valley.
But at the same time, Vanderlinden sees Real Life's eye-catching design as a way to
draw people into church. "We think it's a way for people who have never been to church to come to church and see one of those churches that cares about the environment," he said.
This article is reprinted from the February 15, 2005 edition of The Signal,
a local newspaper in Santa Clarita.
Converting a Movie House
Workers prepare former Mann Theater as a place of worship.
2/15/2005
Brian Franks, Signal Business Editor
A demolition crew has begun transforming a former 17,031-square-foot Valencia multiplex into a church.
Sylmar-based Vision Builders Group began demolishing the interior of the former Mann Theater on Cinema Drive on Feb. 3, to prepare it as the future site of Church On The Way.
The demolition process is expected to take four weeks, said VBG co-owner Dario Pascarelli. VBG is a commercial design company that specializes in the construction of churches.
Once the interior demolition is complete, renovations to the church are scheduled to begin once VBG receives approval from the city of Santa Clarita.
Pascarelli said he is hopeful that the church, which is designed to seat more than 1,000, will be complete within 10 to 12 months.
“It is going to be a great location in that area, so people don’t have to drive to the (San Fernando Valley),” Pascarelli said. “It is great thing for the city of Santa Clarita.”
Plans to turn Mann Theater into a church were approved in June, when the city of Santa Clarita granted a permit for the Church on the Way to open a campus on the site. The approval changed the use of the property from the theater to a place of worship.
For the exterior of the building at 23415 Cinema Drive, the church isn’t planning for extensive renovations, Pascarelli said.
The Mann Theater was the first multiplex in the Santa Clarita Valley. It was renovated and expanded in 1983, but closed a few years ago.
The Church on the Way, also known as the First Foursquare Church of Van Nuys, has two major campuses on Sherman Way in Van Nuys, as well as a seminary. It sponsors a television program and 24-hour radio broadcasts on stations in Lancaster, La Crescenta, Ventura County and Los Angeles.