Saint George Community Center

This new community center and gymnasium was commissioned by Saint George Greek Orthodox Church to serve its growing congregation and the broader neighborhood. The project creates a multifunctional campus that supports athletic, cultural, and community programming while extending the presence of the church beyond its sanctuary walls.

The architecture is contemporary in expression but deeply contextual, referencing both the material palette of the existing church campus and the traditional emphasis on communal gathering in Orthodox culture. The project is organized as a series of interlocking volumes that frame open courtyards and circulation zones, reinforcing a sense of openness and welcome.

The Yianni Koumoudouros Memorial Gymnasium serves as the campus anchor, designed to host youth sports, social events, and festivals. Large clerestory windows and carefully modulated skylights bring daylight deep into the space, while interior finishes balance durability with warmth. Adjacent to the gymnasium, the community center includes flexible meeting rooms and gathering spaces to support everything from Sunday school to community events.

Landscape design plays a key role in the project's identity, integrating native and adaptive plantings with shaded outdoor rooms and generous pedestrian zones. The result is a civic space that honors the church's past while looking toward its future—a center for gathering, learning, and celebration at the heart of its community.

Location Downey, CA Size 20,000 SF Budget Confidential Status Concept Design