Friendship Baptist Church

Friendship Baptist Church
Pasadena, California

This Pasadena Landmark, severely damaged in the Northridge earthquake, was designed in 1924 by Norman Foote Marsh, a noted architect and designer of numerous religious and secular buildings. It blends the popular Spanish Colonial Revival and Mission styles into a 19,000 sq. ft. three-story structure and tower containing a distinct mission portico with sanctuary and chapel featuring dark wood trim and doors, stained glass and beamed ceilings. The rear portion is a simple three-story mission-style wing with meeting rooms, instruction rooms, a large social hall, and private church offices that continue the traditional feel of dark stained oak, transoms, and glass-paneled doors of the period. All seismic work, including new three-story reinforced gunite shear walls, was concealed. Restoration included re-establishing the original color scheme and cast stone finishes on the exterior; provision of new theater and period lighting upgrading general building heating and electrical systems. New handicap access was provided throughout ground floor.