Sharabeya Evangelical Church

Strategy

Opportunity

For the people of Sharabeya Evangelical Church, the building is more than a place of worship—it is a place to learn, meet friends, bring children, play sports, and spend time together. As the community grew, the existing building could no longer easily support all of these activities. There was a need for more classrooms for Sunday school and discussion groups, spaces for gatherings, a cafeteria, and a football pitch for the church’s sports team.

At the same time, the familiar church building and its aging façade needed a new beginning. The challenge was to give the church a more welcoming and youthful identity while preserving the building that its community already knew.

Response

IDD renewed the church around the people who use it every day, giving the existing building a contemporary expression while preserving its original structure. Wider arched windows bring more daylight and fresh air inside, while new classrooms and multipurpose spaces create more comfortable places for children, young people, and adults to learn, gather, and connect.

A cafeteria and football pitch extend community life beyond the church, creating opportunities for shared meals, sport, and fellowship. Sound-absorbing materials and an elevator support different activities and accessibility needs, while IDD’s construction supervision and material selection helped carry the vision through to the finished spaces.

Sustainability

Sustainability is rooted in renewing what already exists rather than replacing it, extending the church’s life while preserving a place already meaningful to its community. Wider arched openings bring in more daylight and fresh air, while durable materials support long-term use. By adapting the building for learning, gathering, sports, and community activities, the project allows the church to grow with its community for generations to come. 

Impact

The renewed church gives its community more room to be a community. Children have places to learn, young people have spaces to gather, and members can meet, play, talk, and serve together. What was once a building in need of renewal can now support a wider range of everyday moments that bring people together.