Church Club Pickleball
Saint Cornelius Catholic Church served as an anchor of the Jefferson Park community for nearly a hundred years, until its closure by the Archdiocese in the spring of 2020. The church building which was deconsecrated and put on the market had been built in 1965, as an unusual and strikingly austere example of mid-century design in a Catholic worship space.
Arda led the architectural design to realize the new owner’s vision of transforming St. Cornelius into the Church Club. The club’s predominant feature is the two pickleball courts installed in the former sanctuary space. The full program includes a wooden bar at the former altar, a dart room and billiards room installed in the former Mother’s Room and Organ & Choir Room respectively, other game and lounge areas surrounding the court and multimedia rooms on the upper level. The parish kitchen has also been renovated to a commercial kitchen to cater events for both the club and the community, and the restrooms have been modernized and made accessible.
Arda and interior designer Siren Betty worked to accentuate the Church’s unique features and expand them with complementary period design. A tile mosaic that formerly backed a mounted crucifix behind the altar has been incorporated into a lighting display spelling “SOUL” over the bar. Lighting was designed around the abstract stained-glass windows, and walnut pews were repurposed for courtside seating. Collection baskets left at the church are mounted above a shuffleboard table. The members’ lockers at courtside are designed with wooden open battens to reduce court noise.
During the course of the project, previously unknown elements were discovered and incorporated into the Club. A bench that was thought to be wood was found to be distinctive green marble underneath a wood covering, and was retained as seating near the bar. Two disconnected and apparently previously unknown rooms on the second floor were uncovered during the assessment phase; Arda designed a staircase for a narrow space and a second-floor walkway to provide access.
