Trinity Lutheran Church: Engineering Inspired Spaces for Worship and Fellowship

Project Overview

BKBM provided structural and civil engineering services for a new two-story, 19,000-square-foot addition to Trinity Lutheran Church in Orono, MN. The project expanded campus capacity with new worship, gathering, and educational spaces—fostering a flourishing faith community.

Project Highlights

  • Integrated Site & Facility Expansion:
    • Five-acre site improvements included a 12,000-square-foot building addition, expanded parking lot, and a drive-up access road with a covered drop-off for enhanced accessibility.
    • Site civil design addressed grading, drainage, and utility upgrades to support growth and meet local regulations.
  • Robust Stormwater & Utility Solutions:
    • Designed a site storm sewer system and a filtration pond to manage runoff from the new construction and impervious surfaces.
    • Implemented an E/One pressure sanitary sewer system due to site elevation and code constraints, requiring close coordination with the City of Orono and a utility easement for undersized sewer piping.
  • Functional & Inspiring Spaces:
    • Addition features a two-story Great Hall, an expanded narthex, classrooms, and meeting rooms.
    • Narthex and entry canopy utilize glued laminated timber (glulam) beams for roof framing to harmonize with existing architectural character.
    • Other new spaces use precast hollow core plank for floors, open web steel bar joists, and metal deck at the roof for long-span, flexible layouts.

Engineering Solutions

BKBM’s engineering balanced aesthetic goals, code requirements, and site constraints. Glulam framing maintained visual consistency, while innovative civil and utility designs supported sustainable campus growth. Careful structural and civil coordination streamlined construction and enhanced long-term facility performance.

Results & Impact

Trinity Lutheran Church’s expansion provides welcoming, flexible spaces for worship, fellowship, and community activity—ensuring the church can meet the needs of its growing congregation. BKBM’s structural and civil engineering enabled cost-effective, resilient, and inspiring spaces that support the mission of Trinity Lutheran for years to come.