Build right from the start

A 12-step approach to construction

by Paul Spite

The pews are packed, the foyer cramped, and the parking lot a disaster. Clearly, the church has outgrown its facilities.

The congregation wants to build, but it's wary. It has heard too much about what can go wrong with a building program. For any church about to start a major construction project, here's some advice:

1. Know Why You're Building
A church building is only a tool that the real church uses to minister to the needs of the body of Christ and the community. Toward that end, a congregation should build or renovate only if that project will enhance its worship, education, and fellowship.

Worship. Worship is a key element of God's relationship with his people. We draw strength as individuals from corporate worship. But a church's design should follow the congregation's worship style rather than allowing a building design to dictate what form of worship is possible.

Education. Classrooms should be flexible enough to handle changing class sizes and programs. A congregation also needs space for offices, restrooms, circulation, and storage.

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A Church's plan for
physical growth must
be combined with
a plan for outreach
and development

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Fellowship. Unless an entire church building is designed as a multipurpose facility, a sizable room will be needed for fellowship. This space usually involves an adjacent kitchen, pantry, and storage. Conference rooms, libraries, vending machine areas, restrooms, and nurseries are also part of fellowship space.

2. Know When to Build
Does a congregation really need to build now, or would it be better off waiting till it raises more funds? According to When Not to Build, by Ray Bowman and Eddy Hall, a congregation should weigh a decision to build against three principles:

1. It should build only when it can do so without disturbing its focus from ministering to people.

2. It needs more space only when it fully uses what it has.

3. It should build only when it can do so with the income God has provided and without borrowing funds needed for other ministries.

3. Get Everyone's Support
A plan for physical growth must be combined with a plan for outreach and development. A minister can't do that alone. Laypeople must have a vision of growth of the kingdom of God and a willingness to work for it in personal ministries.

4. Sort Through the Options
To expand a church building to accommodate growth, you might:

1. Renovate current facilities to handle minor problems, and reassign programs to make better use of space.

2. Add onto current facilities.

3. Look for another church facility in the community into which to move. This is usually more affordable than new construction.

4. Build a new facility in a location that will accommodate at least 25 years of continued growth.

5. Cover the Cost
Building debt-free is best. Short of that, to fund your project:

• Look for donated funds that have not yet been assigned to a ministry.
• Ask for pledges to stimulate giving and increase awareness of need.
• Look for low-interest loans or grants from your denomination or parent church organization.
• Sell your current building, possibly to a group in the congregation that would like to stay put and start a new church.
• Consider using volunteer labor and expertise in the building project.
• Sell off extra land.
• Design a facility that includes rentable spaces, such as a gym, fellowship hall, conference rooms, classrooms, or daycare facilities.

6. Build a Committee
The advantages of putting a committee in charge of a church building project are group wisdom and shared responsibilities. Disadvantages include inefficiency in decision making, and hurt feelings due to majority rule over minority opinions.

First appoint a committee of ministry leaders to come up with a design that meets their needs. Then appoint a committee of people with business and building expertise to manage the construction.

7. Choose Your Building Approach
Early in the building process, decide which approach to building you'll use, such as:

Traditional. An architect designs the building and oversees its construction by a general contractor.

Design-build. One firm designs and constructs the building.

Construction manager. One person is appointed to make purchases and to hire and coordinate subcontractors. The church pays the bills directly.

Pre-engineered. The building is purchased ready-made from a firm.

Each method has its advantages. If you decide to use an architect, get that person involved as quickly as possible. Normal fees start at 10 percent for small remodeling projects, 7 percent for larger remodeling, and 4 to 7 percent for new building projects.

Before choosing a contractor, talk with clients who have used the firm. Ask how the firm reacted to changes, how many levels were involved in decision-making, and how well the firm communicated with the church.

8. Plan for the Future
Master planning is the art of keeping options open. That means developing a design that allows for at least 20 years of growth.

Your design should meet present needs, but it should also serve as phase one of a future complex. Finishes, openings, structure, and systems should be designed accordingly. Spaces should be flexible, and furniture should be movable, modular, and stackable for variable use in the coming years.

9. Follow the Rules
Some of the regulations you should be aware of in making decisions about building a church are:

• Covenants, which govern how some real estate is used. Is your church part of such a development?
• Zoning ordinances, which determine how property is used, including specifics such as setbacks, height restrictions, and parking requirements.
• Building codes, which say what materials and methods should be used in construction.
• Easements, or right-of-ways that have been purchased across someone else's property, which limit usage.
• Permits, which are required from a local building department before beginning construction.
• Inspections by local government officials, which ensure that what was approved is being built.
• A certificate of occupancy, which is granted after the finished building passes inspection

10. Watch the Add-ons
The final cost of a new building depends on choices you make along the way about the church's structure, systems, and finishes. Be wary of:

Basements. Because codes discourage the use of basements for assembly, basements have become fairly expensive spaces.

Clear span. The larger the clear span of your building, the more expensive it will be.

Roof slopes. Higher roof slopes carry less snow and catch more wind. They're more dramatic but offer more space to heat and cool, require more money to finish, and are more trouble to transport.

Tilted floors. Sloped floors are tough to finish, less adaptable for multiple use, and difficult to add onto in the future.

Building materials. Some construction materials are better suited for volunteer labor.

Shipped goods. Building material that's available locally is usually cheaper than what must be transported over distance.

Movable units. Movable walls and freestanding space dividers are more expensive than fixed partitions, but the cost can usually be recouped over time.

Shape of sanctuary. Rectangular plans offer more seating efficiency up to 500 people. With more than 500, a fan shape works better.

Installation. The more difficult a product is to install, the more expensive its installation and subsequent repairs or replacement will be.

11. Factor in the Sound
Acoustics should be a part of your building design and budget from the start. Most churches spend about 10 percent of their building budget on a sound system. When planning for sound:

• Get advice from several professionals before deciding what system you need.
• Try to get professional training for your sound crew included in any sound package you buy.
• Remember that a cheap component can bring down the quality of an entire sound system.
• Plan a system with enough capacity to accommodate years of growth.

12. Use Resources
Scripture and prayer are the primary sources of guidance on any building program. Other churches who have been through the process can also help. So can professionals in design, construction, and government.

Excerpted from Church Building and Remodeling Handbook, by Paul Spite, architect with AFD Consulting. Order the book for $24.95 plus a $3 shipping fee from AFD Consulting, 2319 E. 400 S., Warsaw, IN 46580 (219-269-5233).

Copyright © 1998 by the author or Christianity Today International/Your Church Magazine. For reprint information call 630-260-6200 or e-mail yceditor@yourchurch.net.
Mar/Apr 1998, Vol.44, No. 2, Page 12

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