St. Barsaumo Church, Toronto, Canada
Project Description
By: Farrow Partnership Architects
Nadia Tobia: Partner-in-Charge, Design Leader while a Partner with Farrow Partnership
Area: 2,000 sqm.
Construction Completion: 2015
Photography: Tom Arban Photography Inc.
Located in Toronto, Canada, the St. Barsaumo Church is a new 2,000 sqm. building that includes a 320 seat sanctuary hall, a multi-purpose hall, 6 class rooms, 2 exterior teaching amphitheaters, an office, a boardroom and support and service areas. The construction of this new purpose-built church is the first of its kind in North America for the Syriac Orthodox Church.
As a spiritual and social hub for its congregation, the design of the church had to reflect the cultural heritage of the church, the needs of the congregation, completed within a very limited budget. Overall, the design is focused on simplicity of forms and the fluid relationships between spaces.
A large dome that spans the width of the church hall, freestanding arched walls and the entrance gathering plaza are the major exterior elements. On the interior, a minimal approach was employed with the play of volumes and natural light to create uplifting spaces. The design is environmentally responsive; sustainable measures were employed where applicable and allowable within the tight budget.