Lakewood Church

Transforming the former Summit/Compaq Center, once home to the Houston Rockets, into the new Lakewood Church required both creativity and technical precision. The existing arena was repurposed to create a 16,000-seat sanctuary along with new classroom and office spaces, a five-story addition, and an advanced media center.
 
Construction began before the design documents were finalized, requiring flexibility and close coordination among all trades. The schedule was aggressive, and the building’s existing structure presented unique challenges for installing complex ceiling systems, acoustical treatments, and high-elevation finishes.

MAREK partnered with Tellepsen to provide drywall assemblies, ceilings, and acoustical solutions throughout the renovation and expansion. The scope included sound isolation ceilings, large-scale gypsum furr-downs, and specialty framing systems engineered specifically for the project.

• Installed 45,000 square feet of load-bearing sound isolation ceilings under the existing floor seating and above basement offices and classrooms, framed with heavy-gauge metal joists and layered with plywood and gypsum board.
• Constructed Level 1 ceilings with drops of up to 40 feet and heights reaching 60 feet above the finished floor, requiring precise framing and Level 5 finishes to ensure uniform surfaces in areas exposed to natural light.
• Engineered and built specialty ceilings and sound-sensitive rooms within the five-story addition, including the church’s media center and recording studios.
• Supported the installation of LED screens and broadcast lighting systems with a three-story catwalk structure integrated into the roof truss system.
• Installed approximately 15,000 square feet of acoustical materials to improve sound quality and reduce reverberation throughout the worship space.

MAREK’s coordination and craftsmanship helped deliver a state-of-the-art facility that meets the technical and acoustical requirements of a modern worship environment. The completed church now serves as one of the largest faith-based gathering spaces in the country, blending engineering complexity with spiritual purpose.