Although some church leaders cringe at the thought of having a multi-purpose Worship Center, we submit that a facility of this nature would be pleasing to God.  With this concept one gets maximum use of their space.  There are wonderful economic benefits to a church that has or is planning to build a multi-use space.  For example, if a gym, banquet hall and worship area are placed in the same space, the amount of square footage to be built and maintained is greatly reduced.  Hence, the church reaps perpetual economic benefits. 

 A convertible space also fosters unity amongst the various age groups at a church.  It becomes the hub of activity where people meet with one another.  It becomes a place of connection where one is encouraged to linger and catch up with other members of the Body of Christ.

The versatility of the space allows for it to be used during the entire week.  It may be used not only for the church members, but also, for community functions.  Activities such as community dinners, sports Events and drama productions can be accommodated in the same space.  The space becomes a community outreach.

Those who have a negative impression of a multi-worship space, hear the name  “gymnatorium” and conjure up images of a basketball court with a stage, uncomfortable chairs, bad visibility and sound waves that reverberate endlessly to blend into barely decipherable words and melodies. But it doesn’t have to be this way! A great example is New City Gospel Fellowship in New City, New York.  For this church, we designed a prototype facility that seats 1,100 with perfect sight lines, great acoustics and a theater-like appearance. Although it is also a full-court gym and a banquet hall for 600, these other functions will be completely hidden on a Sunday morning. Here are some of the ways we accomplished this:

1. We designed a second floor mezzanine with tiered seating overlooking the floor below. The wall face beneath the mezzanine is equipped with motorized / retractable theater seating which expands out to cover half the floor. When extended, an amphitheater is created. The front section of the floor is then covered with comfortable, stack chairs but only 9 rows deep, giving everyone an excellent view of the platform.
2. By having continuous seating in an amphitheater arrangement, tall flat walls are eliminated. The seating breaks up and absorbs sound, eliminating the echo-chamber effect. Additionally, the amphitheater forms a more compact zone for the speakers to cover, reducing sound delay.
3. The building is a pre-engineered structure to give an economical yet long span. The exposed ceiling structure is fitted with black perforated fabric-faced insulation blankets, also an excellent sound absorber. The black color adds to the theater feeling. Beneath the high black ceiling, a pattern of ceiling tile ‘clouds’ are suspended. These help to break-up the high space, house the lighting and conceal theatrical light bars above (also protecting these expensive fixtures from basketballs!) The basketball backboards are motorized and retractable. When raised, they are above the plane of the clouds and lighting, allowing them to essentially disappear in the ceiling above.
4. The flooring is an integral color, cushion-backed rubber. It is an excellent sport surface, easily cleaned, and eliminates the sound of heals that is prevalent with hardwood gym floors.

These features all combine to deliver a cutting-edge, multi-purpose Worship Center.  When you are considering your next space phase, don’t dismiss the possibility of a multi-purpose Worship Center.  It may be the perfect solution for your church’s needs.

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