Shin Kwang Presbyterian Church
Ulsan, South Korea

Seat Count: 2,500
Project Type: New Construction
Opening: 2006
Architect: Beck
AD Scope: Room Design, Acoustics, Audio,
Video, Lighting, Stage Rigging

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Shinkwang Church was established in 1946 and has grown to be one the largest Presbyterian churches in Korea. With a membership of over 5,000, the church is playing a crucial role in spreading the Gospel in Korea and North East Asia. In order to accommodate the rapid growth of the church, Shinkwang has decided to construct a new church building.

The church wanted their new worship center to have more of an American style, so AD and an American architect were hired to create an American design that still retained elements of a traditional Korean church, such as lots of wood and traditional flooring in many of the children’s rooms. Korean churches also operate differently from American churches so operational needs had to be taken into consideration. A parking garage is planned underneath the church and its soccer field!

The new worship center will include a very unique, carved, sloped and tapering balcony that was very difficult to design for. Work for the balcony had to be done in 3-D to plan the correct seating locations and the proper angles for speakers coverage of the balcony.

Another design challenge was creating a way for the choir to quickly egress from the choir loft to the congregational seating. The pastor desired that the choir be seated in the congregation during the teaching time.