Could you imagine going to church in a gym? Some churches wouldn’t have it any other way, and others would absolutely go to church in a gym—but only if it was strategically renovated.
Everyday Church purchased an old LA Fitness building to renovate. Soon, the church will transform the old gym into a place of worship and ministry for the community. When the renovations are complete, no one will accidentally show up to the building for a workout.
On the other side of the country, though, people show up to a church building for their workout. As Is Church renovated a large, abandoned building, transforming it into a gym for their community, and now host worship gatherings in the same space.
Why would one church turn a gym into a church and another turn a church into a gym?
It’s all about priorities in church design.
Each church’s unique vision and values must guide decisions on church construction, additions, and renovations. At the same time, general principles should be applied to maximize budget and impact.
How do you determine priorities when designing your new church space? Let’s dig in!
Focusing on Your Church’s Unique Path: 3 Questions to Guide Design Decisions
Designing a church space is a journey that’s as unique as your congregation. The vision and values of your church guide the process, but the path isn’t always clear.
To help you navigate this journey, we’ve identified three crucial questions that can guide your design decisions. These questions will help you focus on the essential elements of your church’s design, ensuring it meets your congregation’s needs and reflects your unique identity.
1. Does The Design of Your Church Building Reflect Your Church Values?
Buildings have personality. They can be playful or institutional, foreboding or inviting, contemplative or chaotic. Your church building should reflect your church’s values, not someone else’s.
Lakeland Community Church in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, included a significant indoor play space for kids in their church building project. This made perfect sense for this young, vibrant church bursting with kids at the seams.
They prioritized an indoor play space in their church design to meet their congregation’s needs and serve their community. Their building meets a meaningful need in their context by providing a play space for kids five days a week.
It can be tempting to see how other churches are having success and try to “keep up with the Joneses.” This is not only unnecessary, it can be problematic.
If your church or community doesn’t currently need to provide play space for kids, prioritizing an indoor playground may not be the right step. It will detract your limited resources from other areas that you should prioritize.
This raises a question, though. Do you know what your church’s core values are? If not, do you know how to discover these priorities? If you have established core values, are you remaining faithful to them?
Church construction projects are defining moments in the life of a church. When your values align with your building needs – so that you can meet a tangible need in your community – it’s powerful.
2. What are Current Design Trends in the Church?
The next priority for designing new church spaces is knowing what’s trending. Keeping an eye on trends in church design is not trying to keep up with the Joneses. Instead, it’s being attentive to people’s needs and creating spaces in your church to serve them well.
2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic sent an irreversible shockwave through the culture. Since then, churches have seen a desire for connection among their congregants and community. Here are some of the spaces and design decisions churches are prioritizing in response:
- Outdoor Gathering Spaces: Open spaces, multiple seating options, warming stations that provide people an opportunity to connect all year long
- Indoor Coffee & Refreshment Areas: Coffee bars and self-serve stations spread throughout the hospitality/fellowship area to enhance fellowship
- Gathering Pods: Spaces are being created where small groups of people can enjoy a more intimate conversation
- Clear Signage: Bold, prominent, intuitive signage that allows guests to navigate the church building without needing to ask for direction
- Eliminating Traffic-Flow Barriers: Welcome centers are being moved from a centralized location to an area that provides a level of privacy
Conversely, a few trends have gone the way of the dinosaurs. Coat racks and public closets are hard to find. Most people keep their coats with them, and closets consume valuable square footage.
It also seems like people need more personal space. If a worship space is at 75% capacity, it will feel full. Therefore, churches are adding services and expanding worship space more quickly than before.
3. What Potential Revenue Streams Can a New Church Space Create?
When creating new spaces for a church building, revenue must be prioritized. Even something as simple as painting a room will cost someone time and money.
Churches need to understand their level of debt tolerance and what resources they may have available to take on a church construction project.
In some cases, a church may have revenue streams readily available. Churches with schools or childcare facilities may want to consider how those institutions can be enhanced or expanded.
If you can add classrooms, that can increase attendance, which can increase revenue. The extra income may be a pivotal piece to funding an expansion project.
Churches often have underutilized resources at their disposal. If your church has acreage, that land could be developed to meet a tangible need in your community.
A skilled church construction company can help you consider the following ways your church’s land could care for your community.
- Senior living facilities that need more space
- Affordable housing options
- Multi-family housing units
- Early childhood learning centers and daycares
Prioritize being creative. Think outside the box. Consider all the resources God has entrusted you with and how they can be stewarded to achieve your goals.
Bonus: Top 4 Spaces to Prioritize in a Church Expansion Project
If you put together your church’s values, trends in the culture, and consider your available resources, you can create a dynamic space for your church. Here are the top four spaces for churches to prioritize when taking on a church construction project.
1. Worship Space
Sunday morning worship gatherings have been essential for churches since the first Easter. Prioritizing your worship space can enhance worship, serve your congregation well, and increase your impact in reaching your community.
Here are a few areas to remember when designing a worship space.
- Lighting: Consider utilizing LED lighting, allowing smooth transitions between the stage and seating area.
- Comfortable chairs: Seating that can be rearranged for multiple purposes benefits your church family beyond the Sunday morning gathering.
- Natural lighting: Many churches limit natural lighting in their worship spaces to maximize the use of screens and projection.
2. Hospitality Space in a Church Building
People are hungry for relationships. Friends and families often linger after church services to connect. The old Narthex doesn’t meet current needs. If you’re processing a church construction project, prioritize your hospitality spaces.
- Ample space: Your gathering space must be large enough that people don’t feel cramped or rushed. Instead, they should feel invited to stay and fellowship.
- Intuitive traffic flow: Eliminate bottlenecks with large doors and multiple entry points to different areas in the building.
- Technological support: Include monitors with rotating announcements, a view of the service, and QR codes so people can easily access information.
- Thoughtful Aesthetics: Fireplaces, photo areas, and appropriate lighting that create an atmosphere of meaningful engagement.
3. Age-appropriate Spaces for Kids and Students
Creating age and developmentally-appropriate spaces is essential for successful church building projects. Consider the following:
- Safety: This must be your top priority when designing church spaces for minors. Dutch doors, windows, and bathrooms will go a long way toward helping families feel secure.
- Accessibility: Spaces that accommodate special needs should be prioritized. Although you may be limited in what you can offer, caring for people with special needs should be on your radar.
- Age-appropriate engagement: Prioritize making kids of all ages feel seen. Your church building should feel like a safe and welcoming place for people to meet with God and each other.
4. Space to Engage the Community Monday – Friday
It’s difficult to overstate how exciting it is when churches position their building to serve their communities. This creates a win-win dynamic for the church and its neighbors. Here are a few ways we’ve seen churches use their building to engage their community.
- Indoor play space: opening up a space for kids to play and parents to connect can meet a meaningful need in most communities.
- Remote work office space: People now work for companies worldwide without leaving their living rooms. But many still long for in-person connections. Consider prioritizing space for people to work remotely from within your building.
- Housing local businesses: Inviting a company, like a daycare, to utilize your unoccupied children’s space can increase your revenue and provide exposure to many families.
- Business office space: Start-ups and non-profits may need affordable office space. Your church building can be the answer to their prayers.
Your Partner for Determining Design Priorities for Churches
Don’t let this overwhelm you. Few churches have the capacity or capital to embrace all these priorities. Don’t try to keep up with the Joneses. Aim to be faithful. Ask for help. We will be there for you.
With over 17 years of experience, our church construction company can help guide you through the entire process of a church building project. We’re here to help you maximize your impact from fundraising to the finish line.
Reach out today for a free consultation!
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