Back in 2005 we worked on an addition for Trinity Lutheran Church, located in Crete, Illinois, and in 2021 they invited us back to refresh their lobby space. We were honored to be welcomed back a second time, to create a space that reflects the heart of the church and the people in the community.
In our Discovery sessions, the Aspen team worked with Trinity Lutheran to extract their DNA, values, and what their overall needs were for the space. Coming out of that, we created a design that would complement their existing historic architecture and traditional vibe, while bringing the space up to date, and giving it a classic feel to stand the test of time.
Watch the Lobby Refresh Story!
Outside the front doors of Trinity Lutheran, people are greeted with banners that say, “Welcome Home”—the church’s motto for how they want people to feel when they come to their church. To reinforce this message, we added a “Welcome Home” accent wall so it’s the first thing people see as they enter the lobby.
“Every Sunday in church we say ‘Welcome Home to Trinity,’ so for that wall to say ‘Welcome Home,’ just reinforces what we want people to feel here at Trinity.” –Frank Italiano, Lead Pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church
The beautiful courtyard, that can be seen from the lobby, bathes the interior in light and inspired a lot of the touches that are seen in the space. The limestone and cross element were pulled into the lobby to bring those outdoor details inside.
The lobby seating area features floor-to-ceiling views of the courtyard, balanced with pockets of comfortable, transitional seating, and a soft, neutral color palette. The coffee bar was added to attract more people to the gather and enjoy a beverage at the high-top tables, or to work independently in the space.
“When people are comfortable, they’re sticking around longer, and establishing relationships.” –Mark Reiners, Chairman of Congregation, Trinity Lutheran Church
The outcome of this new lobby refresh is that Trinity Lutheran’s building and space reflects their heart, and says “welcome home” to their congregation and the people in the community.
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