Because buildings are so costly and so permanent, churches better take time to get it right before they rush into construction, says Rod Hale, church facilities consultant for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board.
Get organized.
Churches contemplating building new space often rush into the project because everyone is anxious to get started. Experts agree, however, that churches will save time in the long run by taking time in the beginning.
By selecting a steering task force or building committee as an initial step the church will engage a cadre of excited members. Their numbers will multiply the effectiveness of the pastor and staff and their excitement will be contagious within the congregation.
The beginning stages of a committee’s work is an excellent time to contact Hale through the Virginia Baptist Mission Board. He has compiled a pamphlet called “Leading Your Church to Build,” which leads a building committee through the process of a successful building campaign.
Ask the right questions.
After getting organized, the first question to ask is whether building is really necessary. Are there other ways to obtain space? Is multiple use of current space an option? Can current space be redesigned and remodeled to meet the needs more economically than building?
Another early question should be, “Do we have enough property to build what we need?” Hale advises that churches should “reevaluate their building site to see it is adequate for their future needs. If the site is landlocked and they cannot do what they need to do they may need to look at a more stressful decision. We suggest that new churches purchase 12 to 20 acres. If all the land is useable, it may get by with 10 acres.” But he hastens to add that each situation is different and should be evaluated on its own merits.
If a building is needed, what kind of building should it be? A trend toward multiple use of space shows no sign of abating. Designing space for multiple use works well for fellowship and education. It is more difficult, however, to design worship space to be used for other purposes.
Churches should consider both the vertical and horizontal elements in the design of worship space since the building itself makes a statement. “Even when a building is empty it says something,” says architect Jim DePasquale, AIA.
A building speaks in both dimensions: vertical in what it conveys about the congregation’s attitude toward God, and horizontal in providing ambience for fellowship.
Structures may be as different as the congregations that build them. Only if they meet the specific ministry objectives for which they were constructed, and reflect the values and spiritual attitudes of the churches meeting in them, can they be considered successful.
Still another question to ask in preparation is, “What are the congregation’s suggestions and expectations?” Marvin Hoffler, who served on a building committee at First Baptist Church of Newport News, remembers the committee made a concerted effort to hear the ideas of church members through a survey and interviews. He then developed a grid that allowed each suggestion to be recorded, evaluated and, in most cases, incorporated into the building design.
Do your research.
Obviously, times are changing, and with them the expectations and preferences of people who will visit your church facility. What trends will affect the kind of building churches plan?
Almost without exception, new worship space requires that new technology be incorporated into the design. Large projection screens are as commonplace now as sound systems and air conditioning in an earlier time.
New worship space designs often reflect an emphasis on using performing and visual arts in worship. Because many churches are discovering that dance, pantomime, skits and film clips enhance their worship experiences, building designs have changed to accommodate them.
Architect Jim Byerly, AIA, recalls a recent challenge. He designed a worship center for a church “that emphasized the performing arts. They needed a place near the chancel where semi- trailers could back up to unload.” It’s not the little brown church in the wildwood anymore.
These changes also impact design in another way. Churches are finding that the more activities a building can accommodate, the greater the storage needs.
Restroom preferences also change with the times. Women appreciate ladies’ lounges that offer greater privacy and a less institutional atmosphere. Family restrooms are common and baby changing stations in both ladies’ and men’s restrooms are the norm in modern designs.
Research should also extend to local building restrictions and municipal plans that may affect the project. Does the city or county have plans on the drawing board that will impact what you do? Are new statues soon to take effect? What green space requirements, wetlands legislation or Chesapeake Bay regulations will the church have to consider?
By virtue of their training and experience, professional architects can offer insights into these and other questions laypersons are not likely to even think about.
Hale also suggests, “surveying the community or area the church is serving because occasionally the church will discover it has built the wrong kind of building.”
Find the right partners for your project.
The search for partners who will help make your project successful begins right in your own church. Internal partners include church members with specific abilities to assist the process. One church, building a children’s building, asked their three elementary principals to serve as consultants. Teams of church people will determine colors, choose furnishings and fixtures and select flooring in some cases.
External partners include an architect, a builder or general contractor, a fund-raiser and lenders. Again, Hale draws from his experience, “Get an idea how the financing will work. We recommend that a church have one-third in hand before they begin.” This enables the church to contract for architectural drawings, engineering studies, soil sampling and such preliminary testing.
At this point the church will begin to see actual physical progress. Architectural drawings will be completed and building work will begin as financing is set in place. One source of lending Hale urges churches to consider is the Baptist Extension Board. Loans up to $500,000 are available at favorable rates for any qualifying BGAV church.
Some churches opt for a design-build approach in which the builder furnishes the plans. Churches choosing this method will lack the advocacy of their architect who ordinarily insures that the construction quality meets his or her expectations. In some kinds of construction, however, notably warehouse-type structures, a design-build may be reasonable for churches.
Occasionally a church will utilize building teams from within its own membership or from other areas. On the positive side, these teams donate their labor and often provide some materials so the savings can be substantial. The down side is that such teams are usually made up of eager but inexperienced people. Although municipal building inspectors must approve the work, churches have occasionally discovered that free labor actually cost them money.
Constructing a new building is usually an exciting time for a church. It causes the membership to focus its energies on a common purpose and creates much excitement. But there are dangers associated with building projects. Those churches that prepare themselves well will minimize the risks and maximize the odds for success.
Jim White is editor of the Religious Herald. This article is the second of three dealing with church construction.