A SIMPLE GUIDE to church building
Common mistakes, architectural insights, and a clear path for your church building project
welcome
Welcome! We’re guessing you’re reading this because your church is somewhere in the early stages of undertaking a building project - be it a sanctuary remodel, a new administration building, or a Master Plan. We commend you for picking up this booklet because it means that you are taking steps to understand the process and how to navigate it well. Churches are incredibly important places. They are sacred spaces, houses of worship, and homes for the spiritual development of people. This is not something to take lightly and should certainly be handled with care. The trouble is, though we’re sure you want the design and building process to be a glorious success - where do you start? What can the process look like? How should you steward this opportunity well? These are all common questions and uncertainties church leaders and members like you are faced with throughout this sort of project. Questions we hope to help you answer through this booklet. However, notice that we did not say “what does the process look like”, but instead “what can the process look like”. Each church is unique, making decisions differently, raising money differently, and each have different goals for their spaces. That means each and every project will present its own nuances throughout the project process. That said, though the path through each project will have its own rabbit trails and speed bumps, the general path and guidelines for each are the same. Thus, we want to help clear things up by outlining an easy to understand path through the building process. That said, we cannot possibly explain every aspect of the process and every possible component to consider in these few pages. Though this booklet we simply want to provide you and your church with the footholds you need to begin your project knowing confidently that you are on the right path.
common mistakes
4 Mistakes Many Churches Make When Beginning A Building Project 1. Not defining the ultimate goal of the church. This mistake may sound obvious but let’s be honest, a new building project is exciting. Sometimes this excitement prompts people to start trying to run the race before they’ve properly identified the finish line. Start by asking: “What are we really trying to accomplish? What will ultimately define this project as a success”? Then move into action. 2. Defining unobtainable or unrealistic goals. Now that you’re not running around blindly, it’s also important not to set the bar too high or the finish line too far. We think very highly of architecture and what the built environment can do for your ministries. That said, architecture can’t solve all of the world’s, or your church’s, problems. We always encourage thinking bigger than ever, but if you ask for a golden sanctuary on the moon for $10 you’re going to be disappointed. 2. Solving the immediate need without a vision for the long term or Master Plan. A band-aid won’t fix a broken arm. Quick fixes or obvious solutions to the immediate problem at hand are almost always appealing. They’re easier, faster, usually cheaper (in the short term), and they often ‘make sense’. When a church is at capacity, one obvious solution may be to expand the sanctuary to fit the new demand, plus a little growth room. Plan for the future right? But what effect does that expansion have on the nursery, parking, and the beautiful courtyard where everyone used to gather after service that you ate into to gain that added seating? 3. Selecting an Architect that doesn’t understand the specific needs of churches and how church campuses function. Architects are talented. They are creative, innovate, and enjoy getting into new challenges. In the end, a great architect can design just about any space for anyone. The keys there though are ‘great architect’ and ‘in the end’. Part of being a great architect is communication with clients. If an architect doesn’t clearly communicate to understand the church’s whole needs, he or she might design something beautiful, but horribly dysfunctional. If, on the other hand, an architect with no church experience can communicate well then in the end they may design something wonderful. However, ‘In the end’ may take a few times longer than it would if working with an architect who thoroughly understands churches. And who do you think is footing the bill for that extra time? 4. Selecting an Architect that doesn’t lead The Church in outlining the program and setting the ultimate vision. This is the most important step in the process and should not be short-cut. Though this may initially sound backwards, let us put it this way: You would never go to a doctor and say “I already diagnosed myself my appendix has to come out, let’s head into surgery go ahead and cut me open”, would you? Of course not. You go to the doctor and describe your problem in detail so he or she can make an accurate diagnosis. Then, while a bad or inexperienced doctor might give you a quick-fix solution, a good doctor will give you the long-term cure.
the path
start
ASSEMBLE TEAM
DEFINE GOALS
HIRE AN ARCHITECT
NEED A MASTER PLAN?
FUNDRAISE DEVELOP A CAMPUS MASTER PLAN
PREPARE ENTITLEMENTS
VERIFY GOALS & NEEDS
PROCESS ENTITLEMENTS
yes
nope
DEVELOP DESIGN
FUNDRAISE PROCESS PERMIT
CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS
finish
HIRE CONTRACTOR
CONSTRUCTION
MOVE-IN
what happens in each step?
ASSEMBLE TEAM
The formation of a building committee or other decision making group should be done as soon as the need for space is established. Put together a defined group of church leaders, congregation members, church staff and ministers that understand the long-range vision, have leadership skills and the ability to make decisions, and who have strong level of commitment. Seven to ten people generally makes an ideal committee size, though everyone in the congregation should feel as though they have representation within the group.
Clearly outline the desired outcome of your project. For example: - Accommodate 24/7 ministry - Help anyone feel welcome - Accommodate more people and programs - Enhance the worship experience
DEFINE GOALS
HIRE AN ARCHITECT
It is important to explore yourself as a church, who you are trying to reach, and the role you play within the community. This evaluation can result in a clearer understanding of who you are, but also who you can and want to be.
Hiring an Architect can be done soon after the building committee is selected. This can be done either either by sending out a request for qualifications/request for proposal to firms you are interested in or by simply contacting firms directly. Important things to do during this process are: - Talk to past clients of the architect - Compare services with fee amounts. Like anything, you typically get what you pay for. Remember that the architect is going to help determine the form and function of your church campus for a long time to come. Be careful not to proceed too far without including the Architect on your team, Architects wear many hats and will serve as an indispensable resource early in your process.
Your architect will work with your team and church to: - Verify and clarify project goals - Outline and synthesize the program (space) needs and requirements - Understand the dynamics and operation of your church
VERIFY GOALS & NEEDS
NEED A MASTER PLAN? yes
Even if you don’t think you need a master plan, it’s advisable to do a campus assessment to confirm that the project is in line with your church’s long range goals.
nope
(skip to next page)
- Outline and clarify project scope - The Owner will need to obtain a Site Survey - Your Architect will prepare design options and present them to the Building Committee/Congregation - Selected options will be refined for a final approved Master Plan
DEVELOP A CAMPUS MASTER PLAN
FUNDRAISE
At this point, most congregations choose to begin raising funds for their project. To assist: - Your Architect will prepare fund raising exhibits/plans/ renderings - Hiring a Fundraising consultant may be helpful
Under most circumstances the design will need to be submitted to the appropriate discretionary approving authority like the local city or county.
PREPARE ENTITLEMENTS
PROCESS ENTITLEMENTS
- Churches are typically not allowed by right in most zones and thus require a ‘Conditional Use Permit’ or ‘Major Use Permit’. - Filing your new/revised Master Plan may be required if the Master Plan includes added capacity/building area or added programs/functions - Entitlement submittals may include preliminary architectural, landscape and engineering drawings plus technical studies and reports (traffic/parking, environmental, noise, geotechnical, storm water) - The approving authority will assess possible impacts to the area that the project will create and require mitigation measures or ‘conditions of approval’. - Your architect will work with the authority staff who will make a recommendation to the final approving body in a public hearing.
Once the general use and project scope has been entitled, your architect and consultant team will develop the design in more detail and work with the church to determine more specific requirements. At this point you will likely hear your architect refer to the different phases of design (schematic design, design development, construction documents). These phases are simply the industry standard method for breaking down the design process into digestible portions as the project moves into deeper and more detailed levels of refinement.
DEVELOP DESIGN
FUNDRAISE
If your project did not need a master plan and you thus skipped our earlier fundraising step, or if your project planned for an additional round of fundraising, we recommend beginning fundraising efforts here. At this point, your architect will have sufficiently refined the design and will be able to provide plans, drawings, and beautiful computer generated renderings of what your project will look like. These exhibits can then be used as fuel for your fundraising campaign.
In this phase the most technical stuff happens. Your architect will lead the team in preparing multi-discipline drawings and specifications (Architectural, Civil, Structural, Mechanical, Plumbing, Electrical Engineering, Landscape Architecture and Audio/Visual Design).
CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS
Your Architect will submit the construction documents to the local building authority to receive construction permits, possibly including: - Demolition Permit - Building Permit - Grading and drainage Permit
PROCESS PERMIT
Here you have options to hire a contractor via: - Competitive Bid after Construction Documents are complete (concurrent with Permit Processing) - Negotiate with a specific General Contractor for Preconstruction Services during the Construction Document Phase.
HIRE CONTRACTOR
Time to break ground. The selected general contractor will coordinate the subcontractors and manage/oversee the construction of the project. During construction your architect will monitor the construction for conformance with the design and construction documents.
CONSTRUCTION
Once construction is complete the local building authority will issue a ‘Certificate of Occupancy’. Now, you can move in!
MOVE-IN
next steps
next steps
Now that you’ve made it to the “end” of the process it’s time to get started. Getting started on anything can be difficult, especially when you haven’t been through a process before. So, now that you know where to start via the project map, here are a few tips on how to go through the early steps of your project:
4 questions to ask when defining your project goals: - What are the current goals of our church congregation? Stated and un-stated. - How do we feel about these goals? - What is our church known for? - What do we want our church to be known for?
4 dos and don’ts for preparing your RFP: A well written RFP can help ensure that you get what you need out of your project or it can be the source of significant confusion and frustration. Here are a few rules-of-engagement: - Do remember that your goal is to get to know each firm, the people who will be working on your project, and their work. Keep in mind that projects run smoother when personalities mesh well. - Do give as much detail as possible about the project. The more a firm understands your needs and vision the more accurate the firm’s response can be. - Do prioritize your requirements for the right firm. - Don’t hesitate to ask if you don’t know where to begin or don’t know what your options are. We’re here to help.
about domusstudio
who we are We are an architecture firm. More importantly we are a firm that believes architecture, the built environment and design actually have the ability to affect people - for better or worse, consciously or unconsciously. A dark, dingy space hinders learning while a beautiful lobby open to the environment encourages people to linger, talk and grow in community. We pursue good design to this end. We believe that we can create those spaces that will help you as a church do what you do better. We work hard to create sanctuaries for better worship, classrooms for focused and enjoyable learning, gathering spaces that encourage relationship building, and ultimately a campus that strengthens your ministry. Throughout all projects our philosophy is consistent. Each project is unique and responds both contextually to the environment and to each client’s true goals and desires. Beautiful spaces enhance lives with beautiful forms and details but above all, our spaces are functional and work as they are programmed. In all of our designs and in our church designs specifically, we strive to express and evoke an ethereal connection which is something beyond four walls and a roof. Light, space, quietness and form, all have the power to transcend the ordinary, even in the most utilitarian space. We attempt to be truthful with the use of materials and express the truthfulness in the structural design, striving for solutions which will not go out of fashion or deteriorate - timeless design. All of this we do by way of decades of practice. domusstudio was originally founded in 1986 as Dominy + Associates Architects, based in San Diego. Since then our studio gained recognition as experts in church design represented by hundreds of religious facilities throughout Southern California and the Southwestern United States. These years of working with a wide array of churches allows us to approach projects with a unique blend of innovative thinking tempered by experience. This often begins by asking the right questions, so let’s have a conversation. We are happy to listen to your church needs and project ideas. So give us a call today and have a conversation with one of our Principals. Of, if you’re more comfortable with email, send us a quick message. We look forward to talking with you. -the domusstudio team
619.692.9393 | info@domusstudio.com
Call or email us today. We love to listen and we are eagerly waiting to talk to you about your project. 619.692.9393 | info@domusstudio.com 2150 W. Washington St., Suite 303 San Diego, CA 92110
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