One of the oldest churches in Bellevue, the First Congregational Church congregation was established in 1896. In 2013, the church sold their downtown property and moved half a mile away, selecting an existing 1970s office building in a conscious move to reinvest in existing infrastructure. Charged with creating a space of awe, the architect inserted a dramatic sanctuary comprised of 40-foot-tall cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels that wash indirect light downwards from northern skylights and full height east and west windows. The use of CLT highlights the Pacific Northwest’s regional relationship to timber, reduces the project’s overall carbon footprint, and humanizes the cold sterility of the existing two-story ribbon-window stucco building. The transformation of the formerly nondescript office building into a sacred space is highlighted by a new bell tower at the street edge, announcing its new use to drivers and pedestrians alike.