Ground Zero

Chad Ellenburg from Pleasant Valley Church in Winona, MN brings us this haunting commemoration of the Twin Towers.

This stage design was created for a series called Ground Zero, built around the idea that every encounter with Christ in Scripture marked a defining moment—where nothing remained the same.

To represent the “rubble,” the team used 2″ foam board from Menards (similar to Home Depot). They cut sections with five openings for the rear panels and three for the front, creating a subtle forced perspective.

At the center of the design was the Ground Zero cross, serving as the focal point of the series. It was made from 1″ foam board, base-coated with gray paint and detailed using splatters and spray techniques to mimic the look of burned debris.

LED lighting was used throughout the setup to bring everything to life.

To complete the background, they layered painted 4′ weed block—textured with a push broom and white paint—against a wall of stacked cardboard boxes, adding depth and contrast to the scene.

Creating Impactful Memorial Stage Designs

Memorial stage designs serve a unique purpose in church worship spaces, creating visual focal points that help congregations reflect on significant historical moments and spiritual themes. This Ground Zero commemoration demonstrates how thoughtful design choices can evoke powerful emotional responses while maintaining reverence and respect. The use of rubble-like textures and the iconic cross silhouette creates immediate visual recognition that transcends words.

The construction techniques employed in this design offer practical lessons for churches seeking to create textured, dimensional backdrops on limited budgets. Foam board, readily available at hardware stores, provides an excellent balance of workability, weight, and cost. Unlike wood or metal alternatives, foam can be cut with simple utility knives and shaped without specialized tools, making it accessible to volunteer teams with varying skill levels.

The forced perspective created by varying the opening sizes between front and rear panels adds architectural depth to the stage without requiring significant additional materials. This optical illusion technique, commonly used in theater set design, makes the stage appear larger and more complex than the actual construction would suggest. Churches can apply this principle to many design concepts, using graduated sizes or overlapping layers to create visual interest.

Lighting design played a crucial role in bringing the textured surfaces to life. LED fixtures provided controllable illumination that could be adjusted to create different moods throughout the service. The ability to shift from somber, shadowy tones to more hopeful, brighter lighting allowed the design to support various moments in the worship experience, from reflective prayer to celebratory praise.

Related Designs

• In the Fields – Discover how Christ Community Church created a stunning barley field stage design for their Ruth series using pallets and natural materials.
• Waiting in Lines – Learn how to create stunning projection effects using wood slats and ultra-short throw projectors for an affordable versa-tube stage design.
• In the Darkness, Light – See how Church at the Cross created stunning hybrid LED and incandescent fixtures using buckets and Edison bulbs.
• Bottled Lights – Explore how Watermark Church built a massive Lite Brite stage wall using 7,000 water bottles and LEDs.
• It’s Raining. Really! – Discover how Christ’s Church of the Valley created real rain effects for their Good Friday service using ABS pipes and pumps.

Pro Tips for Textured Stage Backdrops

Layer Materials for Depth: Combining different textures like foam board, weed block, and cardboard creates visual complexity that reads well from the audience. Each material catches light differently, adding dimension that flat surfaces cannot achieve. Experiment with layering order to find the most compelling composition.

Plan for Transport and Storage: Foam board panels are lightweight but can be bulky. Design your pieces to break down into manageable sizes that fit through doorways and store flat. Consider how the design will be transported from build space to sanctuary, and whether it needs to survive multiple weekends of use.

Test Paint Techniques: The burned debris effect on the cross was achieved through splattering and spraying. Practice these techniques on scrap material before applying to final pieces. Layer multiple paint colors—grays, blacks, and even subtle browns—to create authentic weathered appearances rather than flat single-color surfaces.

Consider Sight Lines: When creating dimensional backdrops, walk the entire seating area during setup to ensure the design reads clearly from all angles. Elements that look compelling from center stage may be invisible or awkward from side sections. Adjust positioning to serve the entire congregation.

Related: Faithful Creation – Discover how Southern Hills Church built a budget-friendly 12-foot cross using coroplast and simple 2×4 framing for their stage.

Related: Weathered – Learn how reclaimed materials and careful uplighting can create an immersive stage environment on a volunteer budget.