St. John Lutheran Church
St. John Lutheran Church
St. John Lutheran Church and School has long served as a cornerstone of faith and education in Seward, Nebraska. As the needs of the congregation and school have grown, so too has the need for updated, functional, and welcoming facilities. With buildings dating back nearly a century, leadership at St. John recognized the importance of addressing long-standing challenges through a comprehensive, forward-looking Master Plan. Sinclair Hille Architects was honored to partner with the church and school to lead this effort—bringing strategic, well-informed solutions that directly reflect the priorities of the St. John community.
From the outset, our team took a collaborative approach—listening to ministry leaders, teachers, parents, and students to identify what was working, what needed to change, and what possibilities the future could hold. Among all user groups, replacing the 1929 school building quickly emerged as the highest priority. In Phase 1, we’ve designed a solution that replaces this outdated structure with new classrooms, improved accessibility, and essential support spaces—eliminating steep stairs, correcting HVAC issues, and creating a welcoming new entrance aligned with the parking lot for safer and more efficient student drop-off and pick-up. The lower level will include a large, dedicated youth space with direct access to parking for secure, after-hours use.
Phase 1A and Phase 2 address two more critical needs: music education and athletic facilities. We will relocate the school band from a shared Fellowship Hall to a purpose-built band room with proper acoustics, studio spaces, and adjacency to the sanctuary for instrument movement. In Phase 2, we’ve designed a new gym and multi-purpose facility that meets modern accessibility and athletic standards. The gym will include a regulation-size court, bleachers, locker rooms, and support spaces—transforming how students, families, and community members experience events and activities. Additional classrooms and youth program spaces will surround the gym, all with a focus on visibility, flexibility, and long-term growth.
Future phases focus on enhancing school operations and supporting the church’s ministry. Phase 3 improves the cafeteria and kitchen—expanding dining space and reconfiguring workflow to better serve students and meet state requirements. Phase 4 will add much-needed church offices, meeting spaces, and a small chapel. These additions are designed to offer functionality and warmth for daily ministry needs and life events such as weddings and funerals. Across all phases, Sinclair Hille’s design approach remains rooted in the unique goals of St. John: to create spaces that are accessible, efficient, and inspiring—spaces that support their mission of faith, education, and community for generations to come.
