ChurchArchitects, LLC

The practice was started in 1984 when John Wesley Whitehead, an architect and pastor’s son, received a call to leave his partnership in a large muti-national firm to begin a practice devoted to serving churches and Christian ministries. In 1989, Todd Phillippi joined the firm, eventually taking over the leadership in 1999. Chris Kulp joined the practice initially in 2015 before serving for several years as the project architect for a mission complex in Cambodia. He rejoined ChurchArchitects in 2020 while also starting an international service arm, Conduit, to train young architects in developing countries. Chris becoming a partner in 2023, and Conduit architects have become an integral part of the practice. Both Todd and Chris are certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), enabling them to be licensed in most states in the US and Canada.

Over the past 40 years, ChurchArchitects has served hundreds of Christian churches, schools and ministries. We employ the latest technology in our practice and are committed to serving with excellence and integrity. We are committed to putting the interest of God’s kingdom and the ministries we serve first. To learn more about our Values, click here.

company partners

Todd Phillippi, NCARB

A licensed architect since 1987, Todd has extensive experience in design, construction, and master planning. He also has a wealth of practical church ministry and leadership experience. To learn more about Todd or contact him, click here.

Modeling & Visualization leader

Jesse joined the team in 2022 and is a master of Building Information Modeling and 3D visualization. Prior to joining ChurchArchitects he spent a year internship working on international mission projects.

Conduit architectural fellows

Joshua Gebreyes is a graduate of the prestigious Ethiopia Institute of Architecture, Building Construction, and City Development (EiABC), and co-founder of an Ethiopia-based social enterprise, Infinite Leather & Crafts. Joshua is an architectural designer and social entrepreneur with a passion to use his skills and resources to create opportunities for others.

Chris Kulp, NCARB

In addition to being a licensed architect, Chris holds a Masters Degree in International Emergency Architecture, reflecting his passion for international missions. To learn more about Chris or contact him, click here.

construction documentation supervisor

Colleen interned under Todd in the early 1990’s and worked her way up to be the lead project architect. She has managed the firms largest projects over the years and is an expert in building codes and construction quality control.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Yididiya Abebe holds an undergraduate degree in Architecture from Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, as well as a postgraduate diploma in Sustainable Architecture from Critical Concrete and the Escola Superior Artistica do Porto (ESAP). Her passion lies in researching environmentally friendly building methods and exploring the social implications of architecture.