Recycling materials of all kinds has been strongly promoted. It helps the environment by reducing landfill waste, conserving energy used in production and preserving natural resources damaged and depleted through extraction. Building recycling does this on a large scale. It is a “green” approach to construction that can often save your church a lot of money. If your church can’t meet your need for more space on site, consider buying or leasing an existing building to expand your ministry. It’s a great way to go if your church goes multi-site or needs to find a larger building to accommodate growth.
Here are ten things we look for in an existing building – whether it was a warehouse, office, retail or other use:
1. Located in a zoning district that permits churches
2. Free of hazardous construction materials such as asbestos
3. No site contamination from previous uses
4. Adequate paved parking for building capacity
5. Interior spaces tall enough to accommodate auditorium and stage
6. Interior structure / columns that will permit an auditorium with unobstructed views
7. Handicapped accessibility possible on ground level / elevator for multi-story buildings
8. Does not have signs of long-term maintenance neglect
9. Adequate utilities to service church use
10. Size is not too small for growth likely in five to seven years, or so large that maintenance expenses will be disproportionate to the budget
