BUILDING DESIGN INNOVATIONS

During thirty years as an architect and another dozen as a church consultant, I've worked on scores of church building projects. Time after time, these churches have stretched my thinking either by their example or by their situations requiring creative solutions.

New ways of designing church facilities can save your church money. Creativity can also turn a poorly designed building into a more effective ministry tool.

Here are several innovative ideas that, by changing your church design, can improve your ministry.

The Ministering Center

For years I told building committees that the sanctuary was the heart of the church, a sacred space devoted exclusively to the worship of God.

"Until you have such a sanctuary," I'd say, "the church's worship will never be all it should be."

I was wrong.

A church in Nampa, Idaho, asked me to design a worship space with a multi-level platform, movable choir seats, portable risers, and ramps to make it easy to move props and equipment ...