Facility Planning
Have a master plan prepared prior to building your first unit. When considering the geographic location of the facilities on your property, plan for both aesthetic positioning (Is there a particularly scenic view in a particular direction?). Also explore the versatility of space and potential convertibility of the first-phase auditorium to classrooms.
Exterior Look: Select style (Colonial, Contemporary, etc.)
One or Two Story: One story is best overall, but a taller building is better on restricted land. If a structure is taller than two stories, costs significantly increase.
Basements: To be employed when necessary, depending on quantity of land, slope, and soil. Safety codes increasingly eliminate any anticipated cost savings; and considerations regarding dampness potential must be remembered.
Shape of Structure: Square and rectangular buildings are generally least expensive. If the church chooses hexagonal, octagonal, fan-shaped, etc., there will probably be more costs in the structure.
Type of Construction: Wood, masonry, steel, laminated wood arches-all need to be considered.
Space Requirements: Below are approximate recommendations and generally include support areas:
Auditorium: Usually sized for up to 2.5 times the present average Sunday morning attendance. Allow 15-18 square feet per person. Eighteen square feet per person is best for planning purposes.
Foyer: This is a very important area and is often built too small. The church should allow at least three square feet per person if possible. NOTE: Most auditorium plans that make allowance for 18 square feet per person are providing adequate platform space, choir area, and foyer space.
Educational Wing: We recommend the following. Adults: 20-25 square feet per person. Kindergarten and lower: 35-45 square feet per person
Social Hall: 15 square feet per person for sit-down meal
Choir: usually sized to about 10% of the total seating
Balcony: use only if your building size and type will accommodate
Offices: size to be decided by church
Day Care: 35 square feet per child inside, 75 square feet per child outside (play area)
Kitchen: Determine whether it should be standard or commercial type, the average size groups to be served, and how often it will be used.
Christian Schools: approximately 30 square feet per person (30 students = 900 sq. ft.). Allow for playground areas. Check all codes for requirements.
Parking: Approximately 400 square feet per car will allow for drives, turnaround areas, and parking spaces. NOTE: Codes often allow for fewer spaces than capacity crowds require. It is generally better to plan for at least one space for each three people; better, one space for each two and one-half people.
Give Special Considerations To:
Sound engineering—you need to hear well
Lighting engineering—you need to see well. We recommend at least 35 candle power per person in general seating areas and at least 65 candle power at the platform
Chalkboards, tack boards, map rails, tack strips for classrooms (size and locations planned in advance)
Type of seating and desks needed, as well as storage
Maintenance: The church must consider perpetual maintenance such as painting and utility costs
Type of furnishings: Pew spacing: 38” o.c. (at least 36” recommended). Most codes require 18” per person in pews when determining occupancy. However, actual occupancy rarely accommodated less than 22” per person
Platform area: Location of organ, piano, orchestra, choir; also special events requirements
Balcony: should have access to both platform and foyer
Sound/Projection areas and locations
Choir robing and baptistry changing rooms, custodial and storage areas, counseling rooms, etc.
Bride’s room, deacons’ room, etc.
Foyer: attractive and inviting. Consider coat racks, missionary board, announcement board, information center
Choir/orchestra practice room
Foundations: frostline depth, pilings
Parking requirements (see above under "Space Requirements")
Requirements for the handicapped
Drainage: collection ponds, catch basin, and piping
Corridor widths, distance to exits, and stairs
Bathrooms: Codes usually allow for fewer fixtures than are convenient. Women’s rest rooms are generally larger and require more fixtures then men’s rooms
Energy conservation: Solar is still most expensive. Insulate walls at least R19 and ceilings at least R30. Use a high efficiency heating system when possible
Stress Value rather than Savings
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