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When the new St. Edward Catholic Church is built in Keizer, drivers passing by won’t be able to miss it.

That’s because designed it to serve as a community landmark, with large glass windows and steeples. Passersby will be able to see inside during the day and observe a luminous glow at night.

鈥淲e’re talking about it being a lantern or a beacon to draw people in,鈥� said Stephanie Meininger, a DiLoreto project manager. 鈥淭hey very much wanted it to look like a Catholic church, but they also wanted it to really be something that could be seen from all sides.鈥�

The 11,000-square-foot church, designed to hold 600 worshippers, will replace a 40-year-old facility. Meininger said the existing structure can no longer accommodate needs of the church, which has multiple ministries. She added that the church also has a large youth education program that needs more space to operate.

鈥淭hey have a crazy amount of meetings they do each month,鈥� Meininger said. 鈥淭hey’re so involved in the community that everything they do on campus has completely maxed out every space in the church.鈥�

Visitors will be able to access the church through a large narthex stretched out in length to provide small gathering areas. A worship space will sit under a series of pointed arches that will support a wood roof and accommodate a glass surround above. Pews will be arranged around the sanctuary on a level floor.

Outside, a pedestrian walkway will be built to connect the street to the church’s center. The walkway will stretch through existing gardens and landscaping.

鈥淩ight now, when you approach their campus, you can’t really tell which building is a church building and which building is a community center,鈥� Meininger said. 鈥淭his clearly says church and looks like a church.鈥�

The project is in its fundraising stage.聽 will take on mechanical engineering, while will handle geotechnical engineering. WDY Inc. is the structural engineer.

鈥淥n the Boards鈥� is a weekly feature that spotlights local firms’ best design work. Submissions from architectural and engineering firms are encouraged. Please call 503-802-7240 or email [email protected].