Congregational Identities and Their Influence on Architecture and Facilities
As published in Worship Facilities, Apr/May 2005
As a growing disciple of Jesus and as the director of our church design studio, I've learned the profound connection between the kinds of congregations we are and the kinds of facilities we build to express the life of the congregation. Parts of the connection are simple and commonly perceived – for example, when churches experience a "baby boom" they expand nursery and playground facilities. Other parts of the connection between congregational identities and architecture may remain unnoticed until a church building campaign starts.
This article details some of the connections that might be helpful to you as you consider your church's growth and future. The type of church facility this article will concentrate on is the "mega-church," defined as attracting an average of 2,000 members weekly, and how the design and amenities offered by these facilities contribute to healthy church growth. These successful and healthy congregations are often designed to meet the needs of the entire community and reach a broad range of demographics. Whether your church has 2,000 members, or 200, the principles in this article still apply.
Know your congregation
A properly programmed and designed church, and its architecture, can help you serve the various groups within your church. When designing a new facility or renovating your existing facility, it is imperative that you ask and answer important questions before you begin the programming and design process. Such questions include:
- Who is your congregation?
- What are their values?
- How do they worship and fellowship?
- What are the mission goals?
For example, when designing facilities for senior members of your congregation, the architect must consider their specific needs. Senior members of the congregation sometimes have a deep connection to something in the church's past. Whether that item is a piece of iconography, or "their" seat, an architect must address these issues when designing an expansion or new facility. Failure to take into account these issues can alienate the senior members and create separation among the congregation.
Understand emerging trends
Church sanctuaries, or as referred to by Crossroads Community Church in Atlanta, "experience centers," are increasingly moving away from the traditional presentational style of worship to a full participatory style. The newest iteration of sanctuaries and fellowship areas are now state-of-the-art performing-arts centers. Systems typically used in the secular community are now making their way into the religious community. Churches are hiring some of the best technical directors who are highly skilled in audio, video, lighting and theatrical systems.
Designing contemporary "experience centers" requires a different thought process than the traditional sanctuary. Because contemporary worship is participatory, and a physical connection to the worship platform is critical for creating intimacy, these spaces have seating diagrams more often "in the round" than traditional long, narrow sanctuaries. Space between aisles is larger to allow for movement during the service, whether it is to praise, dance or circulate. When worshiping, the connection with other participants is vital and visual connectivity to other congregational members is key. Multiple sightline studies must be conducted to assure proper sightlines to the worship platform and other congregational members.
If your church demographics indicate the need for fellowship, meeting and gathering areas should be considered. This does not necessarily mean you need to design separate meeting areas. As in other areas, the need for creative multi-purpose areas has given rise to the combination lobby or gathering space and fellowship areas. Lobbies are now being designed and equipped with all the technologies to function as multipurpose banquet halls.
Designing for specific needs
The need for church-led senior housing development is also on the increase. As our population ages, we see the leadership of churches willing to take on the task of constructing and providing much needed senior housing.
If your church's mission is to reach the "post-moderns" or "gen-xers," your facility should meet their media, audio and video expectations.This generation has grown up with – and is accustomed to – the stimulation of multiple senses simultaneously. Simple audio or video systems will not attract or keep these generations.
As many churches see the need to expand or renovate, they are choosing to turn the existing sanctuary space into youth centers. Youth and teens have a deep need for their own space and a place to connect without adult presence. The type of space generally desired by youth is much less traditional and formal than their adult counterpart areas. We often design these spaces with full teaching and performing, visual and digital arts departments.
As churches focus on teaching and attracting children (and their parents) to the facility, specific requirements must be considered when designing the educational areas. Parents generally want educational areas as close as possible to the main sanctuary. This is especially true for the nursery areas. Parents do not feel secure leaving newborns in an area that does not have easy access to the sanctuary. The location for preschool children should also be close to the sanctuary and on the same floor. Grade-school children can be on a separate floor but should remain in close proximity to parents and the sanctuary. The physical massing, materiality and architectural delineation of your building should also be driven by the core values of your congregation.
- Is your congregation interested in building a facility of the finest material available, to honor God, and be a reflection of that desire?
- Are the demographics of your church made up of individuals who want the building to reflect humbleness and approachability for all individuals?
- Is the physical makeup of your congregation focused on community transformation and therefore, the facility demonstrates and exudes a sense of community?
- All these questions – and more – must be answered before you begin the process of articulating needs and desires to your architect.
An architect who is truly your partner and advocate will ask these difficult questions, listen to your needs and create a facility that is ultimately a reflection of the mission, vision and values of your congregation.
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