La Mesa First United Methodist Church Design Charrette

At the heart of the City of La Mesa is the nearly 130-year-old La Mesa First United Methodist Church. The church campus is a vibrant presence in La Mesa. Not only is it a place to gather on Sundays, but it is also a place for community events, celebrations, and civic discussions. In addition, La Mesa First provides community services like childcare and support for unhoused people.

With the surrounding neighborhood growing and densifying, La Mesa First is looking to restore and reimagine its historic campus. RE Services participated in a two-day charrette, which is a fast-paced collaborative planning process, to help the church brainstorm new possibilities. The charrette was facilitated by Partners for Sacred Places and brought together design consultants and stakeholders. RE Services learned about the church’s strengths and needs, and about their vision to turn the church “inside out” to provide more support to the La Mesa community. RE Services developed schematic designs that imagined new campus layouts and programming to improve access, shade, recreational opportunities, and connection to the surrounding neighborhood. The ideas generated from the charrette can contribute to future master planning and fundraising. At RE Services, we’re passionate about empowering communities to turn their dreams into reality.