From steeples to courtyards to multi- purpose facilities, the building styles of today’s churches are as assorted as their nonsecular equivalents.
To reach more people for Jesus Christ, many Alabama Baptists are following the advice of church building experts by constructing facilities that will help convey the message of the church.
“The image that your church building indicates to the community is called curb appeal,” said Gary Swafford, director of new work and church building services at the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions. “This image is important because what the community sees in the building indicates the attitude and activity of the people who meet inside. This can be seen by how the buildings are maintained and especially how up-to-date the signs are.”
According to Swafford, church leaders should consider the four major factors of style before determining the design of new construction or remodeling projects:
–Consider what is already there.
Many building experts urge church leaders to maintain the architectural style of existing buildings in construction projects if at all possible in order to improve the overall look of the church campus.
–Match the style of the building to the purpose of the church.
Swafford noted that many Alabama Baptist churches are beginning to design their facilities to specifically accommodate certain ministries and attract their target audience.
For instance, when First Baptist Church, Prattville, noticed a large increase in the number of young families relocating to their area, church leaders saw the need for more preschool space and decided to build a larger facility to meet the needs of the people in their community.
Once the new building was constructed with an advanced security system and more up-to-date equipment, the children’s ministries saw a significant increase in numbers, according to Debbie Conway, children’s pastor at First, Prattville.
“We made preschool and children a priority,” she said. “Parents want the best for their children. They will settle for less for themselves if their children are provided for.”
–Take into account the location of the new building or remodeling project on the church site.
–Consider how style impacts the cost of construction.
Swafford added that the style of new churches is largely influenced by the money involved in achieving the desired design. “With limited funds, more emphasis is placed on function than on aesthetics,” he said.
As Alabama Baptists carefully consider these style factors, many congregations have different attitudes about what their buildings should look like thus choosing a wide range of styles to suit their ministry needs.
“Most established congregations are probably looking at a more traditional style of architecture,” said David Payne, owner of Payne and Associates Architecture in Montgomery.
“Sometimes when there is a … new church, they will be a little more receptive to a contemporary style church,” he said.
Those choosing traditional styles often include stained-glass windows, steeples, organs, orchestra seating and a bride’s room, according to Swafford.
In addition, pews are commonly used for seating and pulpit furnishings tend to be more permanent.
Swafford added that churches with a contemporary building preference usually place windows strategically to enhance technical presentations, use platforms that are easily adaptable for various prgrams and incorporate crosses or other Christian symbolsas architectural focal points to identify their facilities as church buildings.
Another common contemporary design style is increased informal space. Achieved through lobbies, foyers, courtyards or refreshment areas, this space is usually open with many windows and has strategically placed lounge-like seating, Swafford noted.
In addition, contemporary church buildings typically include theater seating or interlocking chairs that can be easily arranged to fit the occasion.
Although there are major style differences between church facilities with traditional or contemporary styles, they are quite similar in many of their design strategies.
“Some churches want to be very traditional on the exterior but virtually all churches want the latest technology with projection screens and very sophisticated high- volume sound systems,” said Payne.
Other design similarities between the traditional and contemporary building styles include the following:
–Covered driveways offer accessibility for the disabled and convenience for seniors and families with small children.
–Quality sound systems.
“Our society expects better sound quality,” said Swafford. “We are in the digital sound age and that carries over into our expectations in church.”
–A clear line of vision for the congregation through seating arrangement — usually fan-shaped.
“This helps to keep the audience closer to the speaker to enhance the interaction with one another as we worship together,” Swafford noted.
–Better lighting quality.
“Our standards have changed,” Swafford added. “Our expectations have changed with our society analyzing that they want better lighting. We expect it at the supermarket, at home and at church.”
–More regulated heating and cooling systems through building design and window arrangement which can greatly affect utility and maintenance efficiency.
–Foyers and restrooms at the main entrance.
–Well-lit and more convenient parking.
–More interest placed on landscaping and signs.
–Visitor parking and welcome centers
–Greater visibility of church in the community to help community members easily find the facility.
–Fiberglass baptistries that leak less and are easier to maintain.
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. (TAB)
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