Custer Road United Methodist Church – Phases

Custer Road United Methodist was meeting in a school in 1978 when they bought 4 acres on a 2 lane country road with bar ditches and no sidewalks in what was then open country. They interviewed and hired our Firms Founder Mr. John Hall Brown and his son John Hall Jr. when our current President J. Hardy Brown was just a sophomore in High school. It was the first project our current president really paid attention too. The first phase was designed as a two stories basic box to be as economic as possible to accommodate the growth expected on the new site. Growth came as quick as predicted and the phase two education wing was begun three years after phase one was completed. Founding Pastor Mark Craig led Custer Road to become one of the fastest growing Methodist Churches in America for a number of these years.

Seven phases followed for a total of ten phases over 33 years and three generations of Browns working with 3 Sr. pastors. Much of what we currently understand about phases and church growth strategies we learned from these phases. The church outgrew its original vision and added property adjacent to the original site, across the street and down the block. The basic layout was stretched to its limits. In 1997 BBA-A was hired to study 3 options led by 3 different committees charged with exploring the benefits of; staying put, moving to a site down the street or moving to a new site. At the end of the study it was determined that even though the current site was cramped it was home and the church voted to stay.

Phases and History Custer Road United Methodist Church, Plano, Texas

• The Church was master planned on a four-acre site in 1980 by Brown, Brown and Associates Architects, while the Church was meeting in a school. It was re-master planned in 1998 with an additional 17 acres of land. The Church has maximized the site with use of 2-story buildings and basements.
• The First Phase – Multipurpose: Included an interim worship space (multi-purpose) seating 700 (the interim worship space was designed to be the Family Life Center in the Master Plan). This space is flexible and multifunctional and can be used as fellowship for larger gatherings. The First Phase, completed in 1983, included Worship, Administrative, Fellowship, Kitchen and Educational areas.
• Phase II – Education Addition: Completed in 1986, provided for an additional 15,000/SF of educational space.
• Phase III – Sanctuary Addition: Completed in 1990, provided for a 1,600 seat Sanctuary, (plus additional space, music space as well as additional Adult Sunday School space) to support the larger Sanctuary. The Master Plan has been followed very closely, being adjusted at every phase to incorporate the most current experience of the Church.
• In Phase IV – Chapel Addition: The interim worship space was converted to a Family Life Center and a Youth Area, Chapel, Parlor, Library, etc.
• Phase V – Education Addition: Was completed in April 1995 and provides additional children’s classrooms.
• Phase VI – Administrative Addition: Was completed in 1997. Administrative, etc.
• Programmed, designed and provided cost estimates for Feasibility Studies on three options available to the Church, i.e.:

1. Stay put and park remote,
2. Split campus on two sites, or
3. Relocate to new site.

BBA-A worked with three committees. The church decided to stay and Phase VII was started

Shortly thereafter.         

• Phase VII – Alternate worship, administration, you and children’s addition was completed in 2001. 55,000/SF addition, preschool classrooms, etc. as well as remote parking facilities.
• Phase IX – Renovation of sanctuary and installation of piper organ. Completed in 2006.
• Phase X – Renovation of Youth Crossing area 2011

Address:

Custer Road United Methodist Church,
6601 Custer Road
Plano, Texas
Dallas TX. 75023