Precast Concrete Provides Function and Inspiration for Prince of Peace Church, Taylors, South Carolina

Abstract

In planning new worship facilities to serve increasing membership, a major issue facing contemporary churches is the challenge of balancing modern sensibilities with centuries-old church tradition. A Catholic parish serving the suburban community in Taylors, South Carolina, had outgrown the original church built in 1965. Lack of adequate space for the growing congregation eventually forced the parishioners to move into a gymnasium to celebrate mass. Approval of a design for a new, larger church was based on meeting the need of the Prince of Peace faith community for a structure built both on traditional liturgical practice and the possibilities of modern architecture. With its production quality, design flexibility, and dramatic aesthetics, a precast concrete solution surpassed alternative plans for steel and cast-in-place concrete structures. An arched and skewed precast concrete wall panel design incorporated both loadbearing structural capacity with a magnificent interior finish to create an inspirational space of worship.