“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.” Though this statement by Alan Lakein refers to personal time management, it also explains what we do with many of our clients who expect to expand their facilities in phases. We rely on years of experience in church architecture and the guidance of God to help us impart wise counsel on the best strategies to use to plan for the future.
We help our partner churches develop strategies for bringing the future into the present; strategies with economic benefits that will be realized both now and later. As part of our initial analysis of a church’s needs, we look at their history to determine the ministry spaces that will be needed and incorporate them into the plans. A church may be projecting a large increase in the size of their congregation ten years down the road, but that does not mean that they should build for that now as it would overwhelm the people using it. In fact, too many empty seats makes people feel uncomfortable, giving them the impression that the church is dwindling rather than thriving, contributing to a reduction in the number of people who attend services. On the contrary, if a church builds for only their current needs without intentional planning for future phases within the current construction, later expansions will be more costly and intrusive. Continue Reading »
Tags: 80% rule, expandable
Posted in Classroom, Designs, Growth Planning, Newsletters, Stewardship, Summer 2009 | No Comments »
Jun 16th, 2009 by Colleen
Teamwork and Perseverance! These ingredients, needed for any project, were essential for the Willowdale Chapel project due to the challenges faced by the church. A 25,700 square foot addition was built for the growing congregation. The new facility includes a worship center for 800, a children’s education wing, and a large fellowship lobby along with the framework for a future balcony and a second floor youth facility.
This project provided an opportunity to learn, grow and develop during a time of change, the recession and a limited budget. It is an example of how the “complete project team” is essential. The process, while tedious and challenging at times, ultimately brought satisfying results. Continue Reading »
Posted in Newsletters, Summer 2009 | No Comments »
Large spaces, such as a Fellowship Lobby, are both useful and necessary for many ministries – but making that space feel comfortable and purposeful rather than overwhelming and impersonal can be a challenge.
To begin scaling down a large space, first consider the overall usage. What different types of activities or meetings will occur? Is there a need for larger groups to meet or mingle as well as areas for more private conversations? Space for people to lounge as well as dine? Areas of display? Realizing the many uses of the space, both formal and informal, will help you scale it down. Depending on the size of the space and how many different functions it needs to handle, there may not be enough room to designate an area for each function. Prioritize and determine what functions can be combined to create an area that can multi task.
Spaces can be defined through millwork, furniture, soffits, a change in flooring material or something as simple as a change in wall color. Even though you are creating these “zones”, you want to remember to make sure the overall space feels cohesive. The aesthetics need to feel consistent and the areas should flow easily from one to the next.
Posted in Inspirations, Newsletters, Summer 2009 | No Comments »
“Watch Woodside Reach Up Higher! Come to the Steeple Topping.” is being proclaimed by Woodside Presbyterian Church as excitement is growing in preparation to raise a steeple on their new building on Saturday, June 6, 2009.The event is planned to begin at noon, and hot dogs, hamburgers and sundaes will be topped with all kinds of condiments as everyone feasts on the goodies and watches the steeple being planted on the top of their church.
Many churches in the United States have a steeple on top of their roofs. An article in Your Church Magazine, a publication of Christianity Today, from May/June 2001 tells us that the “spire” originated in the twelfth century. However, the steeples used on America’s churches descend from those designed by architect Sir Christopher Wren of Great Britain. He was commissioned by King Charles II to design and rebuild St Paul’s Cathedral and many other churches that were destroyed in 1666 after the Great Fire of London. His designs included steeples, because he wanted to direct the gaze of people upward toward God.
Most of the new settlements that were built in America had the Church as the center of their communities. The steeple on a church was meant to be the tallest structure in the town and was placed so that travelers and newcomers could see and be lead to it. Many of the steeples house bells for calling people to worship. Although present-day steeples are constructed in a variety of shapes and sizes with a multitude of materials, they still serve their traditional purpose of guiding people’s eye toward Heaven, the dwelling place of God.
Tags: Christianity Today, King Charles II, Sir Christopher Wren, St Paul’s Cathedral, Steeple Raising
Posted in Random Thoughts | No Comments »
