Relevant Community Church Receives Solomon Award

RDG-designed Relevant Community Church has received the 2019 Solomon Award for Church Design – Gathering and Community Spaces. RDG Planning & Design worked with Relevant Community Church’s leadership to design The Relevant Center, a community gathering space reflective of Relevant’s foundational belief that a church is a body of people and not a building.

RDG Planning and Design effectively captured Relevant’s vision to “unchurch” the building by creating flexible spaces that accommodate a variety of event types and sizes; within the first six months of operation, The Relevant Center has hosted 32 community events. Through this community-focused design, The Relevant Center brings people together to connect with God and with each other, transforming the relational and spiritual well-being within the church community and beyond.

“It is humbling to win this award. We didn’t set out to be different, we set out to design a facility that would be used as a tool to serve our community and grow our church ministries,” said Relevant Lead Pastor Ronnie Rothe. “I hope the vision and concept of The Relevant Center will inspire other churches to imagine what’s possible for their own spaces. We are grateful for to RDG Planning & Design – without their commitment to understand our vision, The Relevant Center would not be what it is.”

The WFX Solomon Awards, presented by Worship Facilities Magazine, is a leading national annual awards program, recognizing churches and their partners for excellence in facilities design, building expansion or remodeling, operational excellence, innovative use and technical production. Each year, finalists and winners are determined by an extensive group of distinguished individuals working within the house of worship market. This year the panel included Worship Facilities Magazine Editor Alison Istnick, as well as Marian Sandberg, content director for Worship Facilities, Worship Tech Director, Live Design and XLIVE. Last year, more than 30 churches and projects were honored as winners of the Solomon Awards.

The 2019 Solomon Award winners represent the best of what is happening today in church construction and design, as well as in the integration of audio, video and lighting solutions. Judges consider a range of criteria, from the overall design to the quality of project delivery (e.g. finishing within budget, completing on time, matching the vision and goals of the church ministry). This year’s winners were unveiled at the WFX Conference & Expo on Wednesday, September 18, 2019 in Orlando, Florida.