First Baptist Church
The Hangar
This student center was designed to support youth engagement, learning, and community connection through a diverse mix of gathering, recreation, and educational spaces.
LOCATION Spartanburg, SC
COMPLETED 2003
SIZE 62,500 SF
PHOTOGRAPHER Creative Sources Photography
AWARDS Greenville Chapter AIA Honor Award
A Destination for Student Life and Community
Completed in 2003, the facility grew from First Baptist Church Spartanburg’s commitment to helping young people find direction, explore life, and build meaningful relationships within a supportive community. The student center brings together three primary components: The Hangar, a 950-seat auditorium, and an education complex, all linked by the Concourse, an open and dynamic interior streetscape that serves as a shared gathering and pre-function space.
The education complex houses youth ministry administrative offices, classrooms, a computer lab, breakout areas, and storage, creating a flexible environment that supports both organized programming and everyday use. The Concourse establishes a central hub for activity and connection, while the building’s east entrance was planned to connect seamlessly to the broader church campus through a covered walkway system that provides shelter during inclement weather.
Design Details
The Hangar serves as the social heart of the facility and draws inspiration from the form of a 1940s aircraft hangar, featuring a distinctive curved roof structure and aviation-themed design elements. An authentic T-28 Navy Trainer suspended from the roof creates a memorable focal point and reinforces the building’s identity. Designed as a destination for gathering and recreation, The Hangar includes a café, gaming stations, media viewing areas, table games, a 3-on-3 basketball court, an outdoor volleyball court and dining area, and an audio broadcasting facility.
The 950-seat auditorium was designed to support large gatherings, performances, and multimedia events. Stadium seating, acoustical decking, catwalks, a lighting booth, and a professional video production studio integrated with the church’s broadcast facilities create a highly functional venue. Additional features, including a revolving stage, dressing rooms, green rooms, and backstage support spaces, provide flexibility for a wide range of programming.
A circular entrance ramp creates a distinctive arrival experience at the west side of the building and was designed to accommodate a future water feature. Together, the facility’s architectural character, recreational amenities, and performance spaces create an engaging environment that supports youth development, community interaction, and long-term ministry growth.
Employee health and wellness was at the forefront of the design, and active circulation is a key strategy. To encourage employees to move throughout the workday, vertical circulation is open, transparent, and beautiful. The design strategies that make the circulation elements enticing also make the workplace safer as more employees return to in-person offices.
