Education building planned at Red Mountain Community Church in Mesa

By Richard Dyer
Mail | X: @RHDyer

A 25,215-square-foot education building is to be constructed at Red Mountain Community Church east of Recker Road, north of the Red Mountain Loop 202 Freeway and south of Thomas Road in Mesa.

The planned look and landscaping for the building on 13 acres were discussed Dec. 12 by the Mesa Design Review Board. No formal action was taken by the board.

The building’s primary access will be from Virginia Street, Staff Planner Charlotte Bridges said during the meeting.

“The site plan shows the construction of a new 25,000-plus-square-foot educational building. There’s a new on-site drive aisle and 104 new parking spaces located at the southeast corner of the site,” she said.

Aadhi Nanadagopal of CCBG Architects Inc. is the applicant. Red Mountain Community Church is the owner.

The single-story education building is to have classrooms, a meeting space, a lobby and other support spaces, according to a written project narrative.

“To the northeast and northwest sides of this building, two newly landscaped areas will be developed with a new hardscape plaza in the center. This plaza will help create a lively gathering space and also act as a central focal point on the site connecting the existing buildings to the new building. To the east side of the building, new parking will be added with the required drive lane access,” it states. “We have designed a high-quality, modern education building for RMCC that will provide a spacious and vibrant learning environment for the community’s children.”

The all-volunteer Mesa Design Review Board is unique in that its composition is set by the zoning ordinance to include two architects; two from other design professions such as landscape architecture, engineering, urban planning, interior design or other design-related background; one contractor or developer; and two residents, according to the city’s website.

Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley

rdyer@iniusa.org

Meet Richard
Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.  

Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions. 

Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.

Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.

Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.