For a well-designed church, consider these issues

As a three-legged stool with unequal legs becomes useless for its intended purpose, the church facility that reflects a disregard for design balance is limited in its ability to accommodate the mission of the church. Gwenn McCormick, the author of “Planning and Building Church Facilities” said churches need to consider issues in the areas of project scope, quality and cost.

• Functionality — space arranged in an orderly manner, ample and clearly defined circulation areas, site access and parking, conveniently located and easily visible entrances and gathering spaces at the entrance to avoid congestion.
• Flexibility — multiuse spaces, room for future building expansion or program change.
• Attractiveness — interior and exterior beauty and order, consider not just the cost of building materials but the way they are utilized and blended; relation to surrounding environment, consistent design in interior and exterior.
• Safety — city, county, state and national safety codes.
• Handicapped Accessibility — provisions for physically handicapped, integration of handicap areas in building design.
• Economy — maximize stewardship of church’s resources, reflect a consistency of cost control, coordinate material selection and technical detailing.
• Professional assistance from local architect.