Most Blessed Sacrament Church

On December 11, 2019, tragedy struck the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, when a fire left the beloved building in ruins. The parish, which was formed in the early 1960s, is a local institution located at the center of town, prominently facing the Franklin Lakes roundabout. LAN Associates was hired to work in conjunction with Foresight Architects to reimagine and design a new place of worship for this heartbroken community.

Striving to develop a place of worship that would meet the congregation’s current and future needs, a thoughtful design process commenced five years prior to the church’s reopening. A parish wide needs assessment was conducted yielding many of the primary objectives in addition to several committee and architectural and engineering team meetings, which all helped shape the ideal project design.

The project goals included re-establishing the church structure as a visible beacon of light in the community, defining what a modernized Catholic church looks like in a suburban setting, and maintaining the circular seating the original church offered while accommodating an expanded occupancy of 700 in the main sanctuary. Additionally, providing a variety of interior and exterior meeting spaces for the community, dedicated youth rooms, and ample space for fellowship before and after the weekly services, were all much-desired amenities. 

The final design is a well-planned contemporary structure that nods to past traditions of church design by incorporating pointed arch windows, a functional bell tower, and a prominent steeple, all grounded by timeless natural stone and a masonry-clad foundation. The guest experience starts upon arrival in the parking lot, where the parishioners are welcomed on a journey that extends through the semi-circular entry plaza, under the salvaged bells and new tower, into the narthex and main worship space.

A formal, semicircular plaza with ornamental trees and plantings provides an open social space leading up to the Church entrance. This includes a tree-lined, cobblestone driveway right up to the covered main entrance, which can serve as a drop-off for weddings and other special events. A centrally located fire bowl outside the Church provides a place for contemplation and seasonal ceremonies. The historic bells from the original Church were salvaged and integrated into the design of the new bell tower, providing a connection to the past in a design that looks to the future.

Within the entrance, the narthex is designed for fellowship and overflow seating. Adjacent to the narthex is a new dining hall and community space for parishioners to gather and participate in community activities.

Fostering a welcoming experience, well-balanced aesthetics, and acoustics were all important factors that shaped the main worship space. The floor plan is organized around a circular altar and seating configuration, all set within an octagonal architectural envelope. To accommodate larger attendance, the space includes additional pews and moveable seats that expand the capacity beyond what the original Church offered.   

The overall structural system was designed for efficiency using eight large bent column girders that frame the entire vaulted space in a crisscross pattern. Expansive clerestory windows adorn the roof, welcoming generous natural light from above. Stained glass windows and faux timber roof framing accent the interior spaces to further enhance the worship space. 

The altar is decorated with a marble floor tile and encompasses the tabernacle area beyond. The tabernacle is adorned with decorative columns, curved beams, and ornamental woodwork, allowing high visibility for all. A new pipe organ, designed by Peragallo and Associates, was installed above the tabernacle area within three triumphal arches.  A new wood-carved crucifix is installed directly above the altar.

The new Church includes an intimate daily chapel that can seat 100 parishioners. This sacred space is day-lit with expansive stained-glass windows and framed in faux timber beams. The design deliberately incorporated ground-floor windows to allow the public to get a glimpse of the events inside. The stained-glass windows were salvaged from another Catholic church and modified to adorn the daily chapel and various other rooms throughout the rest of the Church. The altar backdrop is crafted out of decorative moldings, columns, and arches composed symmetrically to frame a salvaged statue of Mother Mary.

LAN Associates was engaged to re-design the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament as their primary architect and engineer. Our architectural efforts included working alongside Foresight Architects on many aspects of the church design, including high-level site planning, programming, overall seating configuration, and building planning all the way through the finer details of the lighting fixtures, furnishings, and furniture. Great effort was made to include physical and symbolic elements of the original Church within the new design, and the architectural team worked alongside LAN’s interior design team to craft an interior finish palette, appropriate lighting, and built-in custom millwork features throughout the building.

LAN’s mechanical engineering team created a mechanical design solution that avoided having exposed ductwork while also giving the Church’s interior a modern look that complemented the design. Linear and radial slot diffusers were installed around the perimeter of the main worship space to allow for an even and quiet distribution of airflow throughout this large volume of space. All rooftop units were located in a manner that mitigated noise transmission to the critical worship spaces by utilizing vibration isolation systems and other enhanced acoustic mitigation measures.

LAN’s plumbing engineering team worked alongside our architects and the project’s Ecclesiastic Consultant, Foresight Architects, to design the Baptismal Font to meet the standards of a Catholic Church. Additional base building plumbing systems supporting the general restrooms, kitchen, and work areas were all designed thoughtfully. Gas and water lines were also completely hidden and/or run above ceilings so they would not inhibit the aesthetics of the worship spaces.

LAN’s electrical engineering team collaborated with our architects and mechanical engineers to provide a concealed power distribution system that seamlessly integrates into the Church’s interior finishes. All power, communication, audio/visual, and security wiring were skillfully hidden to complement the ecclesiastical aesthetic. Additional premium systems were also incorporated, including a building lightning protection system, intricate lighting controls with worship lighting, and infrastructure for a future power generator connection.

The project also required the expertise of LAN’s civil engineering team, which provided hardscape plans, stormwater management, septic design, and site lighting. The front plaza and generously landscaped site were thoughtfully planned and designed in collaboration with the project’s Landscape Architect, LAND Identity.

LAN’s construction administrators also worked diligently throughout the 20-month construction schedule to ensure that both the design teams’ and clients’ visions were brought to life during the construction phase of the project. A collaborative spirit was developed between the General Contractor, Owner, and design team leading to an incredible new worship space for the community.