It’s been a really busy summer, and I’m really looking forward to vacation next week in NC. It has been a summer of advancement for us at WPH as well. We have launched a new planning tool, thanks to Strategic Dimensions. They have put together a product which allows us to assess a church’s growth and corresponding facility needs coupled with their financial capacity over time. When I saw their beta-version a while back, I was really impressed and wondered how we could move our planning tools to this level. In June, we worked together on a Charette (an intensive on-site design exercise) with New Covenant Community Church in Somers Point, NJ, and I had a chance to see the power and versatility of their program. No doubt that much of the value is gained by the operator of the tool, Jeff Otero, and his ability to develop out-of-the-box scenarios. But the basic tool can easily test the assumptions we use to help a church plan for the future.

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In our previous issue, we discussed the importance of using an interior designer, their role in the design process, and how they can help transform the interior of the church. Now we will talk about the role of the client and what they can do to help facilitate a smooth and successful project.

When embarking on a renovation or new construction project, the church often appoints several individuals to a building committee to oversee the overall project. Though not necessary, a separate “interiors committee” may also be formed. It is important that this group get involved early in the process. Selecting the appropriate individuals to participate is as crucial as selecting the right designer for the project. Our experience has shown that the smaller the interiors committee, the more effective and efficient the design process. Churches, especially, seem to have difficulty narrowing down their selection due to the number of ministries they may have. They may feel it necessary to have a representative from each ministry which, in some cases, could be upwards of ten people! Ten people with ten differing opinions will only result in a long and exhausting process, which is often detrimental to the project. Continue Reading »

The group at Ni River Community Church is committed to “loving people where they are”. The church began with a congregation of about 60 people. They had their first public meeting in February of 1999 at a local high school and continue to meet there today with their growing family. God has given them a unique vision for their future and blessed them with ground to build a permanent home through Tri-Cord, a local development organization.

Their new site will be gradually expanded in stages, beginning with their ministry center. Plans are to build a structure that has a centrally-located fellowship mall with a café, Bookstore and stage to foster interaction between the people who come to worship. Eventually, this building will be turned into a multi-purpose youth center when a dedicated worship facility is built on their site.

God calls each of His churches to a unique ministry. Such is the case at Ni River as they feel the call to reach out to the autistic children in their area. Continue Reading »

When designing a room, it is important to consider the impact color has, both psychologically and physiologically, on the people using the space. When selecting colors for a particular room, keep the affects of the four basic color groups in mind.

Red is a color that arouses emotion. It also induces hunger, making a café or restaurant an ideal place to use it. One must remember, however, that too much red can make a person irritable. Continue Reading »

Abitibi Paper Retriever is the global leader in the manufacturing and recycling of newsprint, but it is also a company that offers a free program to churches, schools, and non-profit organizations.  They provide a 7-cubic-yard recycling bin (the same size as a small dumpster) for your group to dump all kinds of paper products into.  Abitibi will empty your bin regularly, weigh how many pounds of paper you’ve recycled and, on the 15th of each month, cut a check to you.  They pay you for every pound of paper you’ve recycled - no strings attached.  Churches have been known to use this cash to fund their church maintenance, pay for a missions trip, or to support a charity.  The benefit of this program is two-fold… not only do you keep mounds of paper out of landfills, but you also get to see tangible results through the monthly payment.  This could be a great way for members of a church to dispose of all their paper, junk mail, catalogs, and other paper products they would otherwise simply throw away.