There is more to choosing an architect than getting bids and picking the one who charges the cheapest fee, according to church building experts.
Instead, church leaders should look for a professional that is well suited to work with their building committee and skilled in constructing the type of facility that the church needs.
“When you need brain surgery you don’t shop around for the doctor with the best price,” said Paul Davis of Paul Carpenter Davis Architecture. “You go with the best doctor. The same goes for architects. There may be a difference in the level of experience that some architects have.”
Steven Newton explains in Gwenn McCormick’s “Planning and Building Church Facilities” that the selection of the architect is vitally important to the success of the building project.
“The architect will play a significant role in the allocation of the church’s resources for the construction project,” he wrote. “Therefore, the utmost care and attention should be given to the selection process.”
Gary Nicholson, an architect in LifeWay’s Church Architecture department, agrees with Newton warning churches that choosing the wrong architect could be detrimental to the entire construction project.
“Putting the design of your project in the wrong hands may condemn your church to a number of problems for many years,” he writes in an article to be published in Church Administration magazine, a quarterly publication by LifeWay.
“You could end up paying more than you should to get the building you need, going through all kinds of problems to get the building built, or worse, not really taking care of the needs you were trying to meet.”
To avoid these problems, Nicholson recommends that church leaders follow these basic steps:
1. Know your needs.
“You should know the location, size, function, budget and approximate start time before you employ an architect,” Nicholson noted. The Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions and LifeWay Church Architecture can help churches define this information.
2. Obtain names of prospective architectural firms to interview from trusted friends, coworkers, contractors or denominational agencies.
3. Select about three firms that are the most likely candidates and interview them. A well-planned, carefully conducted interview process is the best approach to architectural selection, according to Newton.
Although the chemistry between the church building team and the architect is important, Nicholson discourages church leaders from relying solely on this factor.
“There is too much at stake to rely on good feelings as the only criteria for selecting the architect who will help create the home base for your ministry for decades to come,” he noted. Instead, Nicholson recommends that the building committee invite architects to make a short presentation about their firm and then ask specific questions about the project at hand.
“Discover their previous experience, services offered, basis of fee calculation and what is and is not included in that fee,” he added.
4. Call the references provided by the architect.
Although very simple, this step is extremely important in the selection process. Church building experts advise church leaders to ask probing questions to find out the type of information needed to make a good decision.
“Find out how they performed, and if there were problems, what caused them,” Nicholson noted. “(Ask) was the project on schedule and within budget. If not, (ask) why not.”
5. Negotiate and sign an agreement for services with the best candidate using one of the standard forms of agreement provided by the American Institute of Architects.
Nicholson recommends that churches steer clear of architects who use non-standard contracts warning that hidden problems might emerge later in the building process.
“Be sure to read the contract so you understand what is expected of you, as well as what to expect from the architect,” he noted. “As a courtesy, be sure to notify the others you interviewed that they were not selected.”
According to Newton, church leaders should only choose an architect after considering the following criteria:
–Capability to perform the project under consideration.
–Compatibility in working with the committee.
–Commitment to achieving the goals of the church.
–Cost control in professional fees and overall project budget.
Another important factor in choosing an architect is the candidate’s experience in working with churches and building committees.
“Beware of architects and other construction industry firms that may choose to work with churches because they think churches are less informed and more likely to accept poor levels of service and quality of construction,” Nicholson said.
“Some of these are highly skilled at selling themselves as Christian partners in ministry but do not deliver a quality product. Find someone who is committed to Christ and highly skilled in the area of service you require.”
Gary Swafford, director of new work and church building services at the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, recommends that churches specifically ask if an architect is willing to work with churches. “It really boils down to the architect needs to fit the job that is to be done and then the architect needs to be flexible and understand that churches work through committees, and it takes more time,” Swafford said.
Overall, church construction experts believe that careful selection is the key to finding the right architect for your building project.
“If you understand the role of the architect, and carefully do your homework to select the right person or firm, you have an excellent chance of meeting your church’s needs in a manner that is at the same time functional, cost effective and aesthetically beautiful,” Nicholson said. “Your facilities will be an effective tool to help you accomplish the ministry you were called to by God.”
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