St. Paul's Centre

The low lying extension is built around a covered atrium that reinterprets the early Christian tradition of western atrium. This covered space, which is connected to the church through the original Baptistery, acts as a focus for the communal use of the building.

On the ground floor the atrium is flanked by reception and meeting spaces as well as a bookshop and café, while on the upper floor four large meeting rooms overlook the atrium.

The basement contains a large auditorium, naturally lit from above through glazed floor elements, as well as additional meeting spaces and toilets. The creation of the basement involved the full excavation and recording of over 650 bodies.

The axis of the nave is continued the full length of the concrete framed extension under a roof canopy to allow views through the building to the original church.

The architects have also overseen the major internal and external cleaning and repair works to the church.