The family of products from Flex-Ability Concepts, Oklahoma City, OK, was used extensively in the arch-laden design of the new St. Therese of Carmel Catholic Church in San Diego, CA. Light gauge steel framing was utilized in a variety of interior and exterior radii applications to create a striking, inviting look for the 1,000- seat church.
Hyndman & Hyndman Architects, Cardiff By The Sea, CA, developed the design. The design objectives, according to Shelly Hyndman, “included providing a building footprint and form that would emphasize the long linear center aisle used for processions in liturgies while still providing a contemporary ‘seating in the round’ worship space.”
The entire building is light gauge steel framing. According to Hyndman, “The building exceeded the 50′ maximum height allowable under the Type 5 building type limitations and therefore a Type 3 building was required using non-combustible construction. Additionally, many of the soffits and architectural features in the ceilings were better suited to the light weight nature of steel studs rather than wood framing. Since the super-structure was steel, this also provided for easier connections that would otherwise require additional expense in attachments between architectural features and the primary structure. The flexible track also contributed to the decision to use steel studs since the curved forms could be more economically achieved using this curveable product.”