Critical Mass Studio is an architectural collaboration founded by Chad Smith and Mike Jacobs, and is the result of a shared vision and commitment to the city, its landscape, and its space. The studio is grounded in the belief in an expanded cross-disciplinary collaboration, fostering a density of innovative ideas and solutions. http://criticalmassstudio.com/
To transform the church into an artist retreat, Critical Mass chose to leave the exterior mostly intact. The siting of the church nave was aligned on a north-south axis facing the street. The new organization reorients this interior to an east-west axis, connecting the interior to the expansive wetlands landscape to the west while maximizing the natural light and ventilation. The construction was approached with a cabinetmaker's sensibility: with a maximum of artisan wood joints and a minimum of mechanical fasteners. The new stair, new bookcase and the spliced structural beam are all constructed out of recycled timbers joined on site.