First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks

With a growing congregation, the First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks wanted a 3,000-seat sanctuary with major audio and video performance enhancements.

In order to tackle the limited site access and extensive underground utilities, coordination with multiple trades for the casting layout of the Tilt-Up panels was necessary. Careful planning was also needed to place the deadmen without interfering with the casting and lifting of the panels.

Constructed during a particularly active hurricane season, three hurricanes passed through the area after the panels were placed and braced, waiting for the structural steel to be installed.

The exterior Tilt-Up walls used 23,000 feet of horizontal reveals and numerous recesses to create the look the owners desired. After the walls were erected and the outer portion of the building was complete, the exterior was painted with accenting neutral colors to give the church a dramatic appearance.

The back of the sanctuary is on a segmented radius, which gives the illusion of a curvilinear building.

The most striking feature of the facility is the stainless-steel cross that is attached to two panels and stands 80 feet above the floor.