List of ACLS Members

Architectural and liturgical design services shaped to the needs of each parish including: Development with the parish leadership of a collaborative planning process based upon its needs, schedule and budget. Assistance in the iconographic programming, design and/or selection of artist and craftsman for the fabrication of liturgical furnishings. Architectural services encompassing long range master planning, conceptual design, design development, contract documents, historic preservation or adaptive reuse and construction administration.

Preliminary Planning – Develop a process with the parish leadership that will assist in the assessment of the parish physical and spiritual future needs. -Develop committees, Develop Schedules, Clarify tasks, Review parish mission statement, Needs survey for parish committee, Retreats Programming – Review parish requirements through open meetings with advisory groups and parish committees. Determine short-range goals and long-range goals. Space requirements for new or expanded worship space. Design Process – Work with parish in formulation of workshops that relate to worship environment and the space requirements for rites and rituals. The workshops are designed to gain as much participation as possible from community.

Work with pastor and/or committee in planning process for building or renovation. Collaborate with architect, contractor, artisans to achieve client’s vision -on time and on budget. Provide resources for custom, catalog, and vintage options for furnishings, artwork, and appointments. Review architectural drawings to ensure they will function for liturgical requirements. Other services include parish surveys, presentation boards, guidance on compatibility with BOLS & GIRM documents, code compliance, sourcing of original, catalog, and vintage furnishings, artwork, and appointments as well as guidance on budget priorities.

Designing and coordinating a process for church building and renovation projects. Developing and presenting parish formation workshops on worship and liturgical space. Participating with and advising the design team as an advocate for the liturgy. Assisting in the hiring of other professionals. Facilitating and coordinating between design team and parish leadership. Providing assistance in use of the building after a project is complete.

The services for congregations vary with the needs of each community. These services guide the congregation through the visioning and dreaming, the design and construction and then assisting in the use of their new worship space. My background combines academic understanding with practical experience in liturgy, architecture, art and design. A long-standing network of colleagues, architects, artist and fabricators allows me to bring a wide spectrum of complementary expertise to any project. Services include: Educational process, liturgical formation and history; religious art and architecture; sacred space; architectural process programming and planning; vision analysis, organizational and strategic planning, liturgical programming, artistic programming; Facilitation, experienced presenter and facilitator who can work with committees to form consensus. Artistic direction and design – liturgical furnishings, collaborative design work with architect and artists and fabricators. Coordinate selection of art and artists; Historic Preservation – Research and Consulting in historic preservation

After working as a liturgical architect and design consultant since 1985, Kenneth J. Griesemer established his own consulting practice in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on October 4, 1999, the anniversary of his baptism and the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Ken provides professional liturgical design consulting services for multi-cultural worshiping communities and architects around the country including the following: building committee formation, architect and artist selection, catechetical and community input sessions on art, architecture and liturgy, preparation of liturgical and art program documents, collaborative input to the project team throughout the building process, design review and recommendations, design and direction for liturgical furnishings, appointments and assembly seating, training update for liturgical ministers in new and renovated worship space.

Robert Habiger is semi-retired and participates as a Liturgical Design Consultant in projects which promote and exemplify Vatican II principles, excellent design and beauty in a worship environment.

Foresight Architects is an architectural and consulting firm dedicated to the promotion of quality facilities for religious organizations. Often, leaders and members of a congregation need the service of a firm with strong experience in master planning, historic preservation, liturgical consulting and education, fundraising assistance and congregational consensus-building. Our firm can fulfill those needs.

As a result of many years of experience and research, Foresight Architects is in an ideal position to be of service to religious organizations in need of these professional services. We understand the multiple facets of a church’s ministries, congregation, limited financial resources and multi-purpose building needs. Whether it be the preparation of a long range Master Plan, the preservation/adaptive reuse of or addition to an historic church, or the planning and design of a new facility, you will find the same commitment to providing high quality, personalized, needs-based design services.

Architect Selection -Guide the community in locating and identifying potential architects. Take a leadership role in determining the criteria for evaluating, interviewing and selecting an architect.
Catechesis- Impart the community with an understanding of religious architectural history, liturgical history, liturgical space, furnishings, art and their relationship to the liturgy of the Church today.
Community Goal Identification-Identify, in collaboration with the community, the parish goals for the project. Parish goals then become a guiding statement for use by all those involved in the project. Collaboration with other Professionals-Assist the architect and other project professionals as required to ensure that liturgical elements have been incorporated into the design solution. Ensure that all sacraments and rites celebrated in the community are given equal consideration during the design process.
Procurement of Original Furnishings and Ritual Objects -Work with the community in locating and obtaining furnishings and ritual objects for the celebration of the liturgy that are appropriate for the worship space. These items may include, but are not limited to, baptismal font, ambo, cross, tabernacle, processional cross, vessels, ambry, devotional images and Stations of the Cross. Likewise, providing assistance the community in developing a budget for these items is included.
Artist Location – Collaborate with the community in locating artists and craftspeople to provide the devotional art appropriate for your space ensuring that it meets the requirements of the liturgy and the guiding statement developed by the community.
Ritual Ceremonies-Aid the community in planning “leave‑taking” rituals for the departure from the existing worship space, the Rite of Dedication for the completion of the renewed space, and other rituals to ease the transition to the new worship space.
Care Taking Review-The Hutchinson Group will return to the worship space at prescribed times during the first year of use. We will closely observe the use of the space and provide a written review suggesting ways how the new space can more effectively used.

Assist in the formation of the Parish Building/Renovation Committee Facilitate the evaluation of Liturgical Celebrations and Liturgical Space Assist in the Formation of the Professional Team to assist the Parish community Facilitate or Assist the Parish Education/Catechetical Process and the Program Plan/Decision Process with other profesionals Provide Liturgical Formation of the community both during planning and occupancy of a newly built or renovated worship space; formation and training of Liturgical Ministers Assist in selection of liturgical artists

Assist in the formation of design steering committee Provide process planning retreat for the committee Provide formation process for the design steering committee and parish advisors Assist in the selection of architect and other consultants Collaborate with Parish advisors during programming and design phases Facilitate ongoing parish communication Collaborate with architect and design steering committee throughout process Assist in the selection of artists and crafspeople Provide rituals for leave-taking during building process/prepare blessings and rituals for new or renovated spaces Facilitate the use of the new or renovated space for the celebration of the various rites and sacraments

As an allied member, resource to consult by email or phone concerning liturgical space.

All aspects of Liturgical Design Services

Development of committees to achieve parish involvement and sense of project ownership

Site and building master planning which implements an organized growth module for the construction of buildings in project.

Long Term Committement to the parishes we serve

Union of Liturgical consultancy & architecture to maintain a sense of continuity from Liturgy to design implementation.

Environmental Consulting

Prearchitect study with committee and parish on understanding liturgy and the church both historically and in this place and time to which we are called to be faithful. – Facilitator of a process for consensus building within the committee

Gilbert Sunghera, S.J. directs the Liturgical Space Consulting Service, a non-profit firm based at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Architecture. He brings a professional background in Architectural Design and Liturgy to assist congregations plan for the future. He has consulted on several projects for the Jesuits during his priestly formation, and brings this experience to UDM LSC which has a proven track-record of assisting community organizations envision new and supportive environments. Programming + Educational + Project Team Development + Presentation Material for Fund Raising + Consulting Services for Architects

Site selection and Project Feasibility, Assistance with Liturgical Formation, Master Planning process involving the entire parish. The process includes Need Analysis, Programming, Liturgical Consultation and Planning Design, Entitlement Processing for government approvals , Architectural Design, Specialty Consultant coordination for Lighting, Acoustics, Landscape, Information Technology, Civil Engineering, Interior Design, Liturgical Furnishings Design and Fabrication Administration, Assistance with Liturgical Arts selection. Working with the community to select Artists for their particular needs.