Structural Options: Pre-engineered Steel
Speed of construction and lower building costs make pre-engineered steel an attractive option
As published in Worship Facilities, May/Jun 2006
Picture this: it is time to start designing the new church facility of your dreams. A beautiful building – one that not only meets the needs of the church, but provides a beautiful place of worship that everyone can be proud of. The new sanctuary and classrooms will be designed to easily hold the current congregation, yet offer room to continue growing. This is a project that will encompass the vision and dreams of the entire congregation.In this mental picture, is the new church a pre-engineered steel building? Probably not, but it could be.
Do the words “pre-engineered steel building” conjure up pictures of the local warehouse or does the thought of a steel sanctuary make you want to give up on your building dreams? That may have been the case in the past, but today’s pre-engineered steel buildings are aesthetically pleasing, as well as cost-effi- cient, practical and easy-to-maintain.
Pre-engineered steel as a primary structural material has been increasing in popularity over the past few years. The components of the building – both interior and exterior – are manufactured by companies such as American Buildings Company (ABC) located in Eufaula, Alabama who work with an authorized builder and contractor network. The parts are created to the specifications of the design team, and then are shipped to the contractor. Because of this system, steel buildings offer many advantages over traditional construction – they can be constructed much faster, and at a much lower cost.
The Cumberland Heights Church of Christ in Sparta, Tennessee was looking for an affordable new sanctuary. They decided on a pre-engineered steel building. The exterior of the building features metal walls while the interior is finished with drywall and dropped ceilings. It is impossible to tell it is a metal building when looking at the interior finishes. This building met the churches goals and gave them the perfect size building for their budget.
J&S Construction, a design/build construction company in Cookeville, Tennessee, works with many churches who desire to be aesthetically pleasing, and thus a wide range of metal buildings products are available for the exterior of the building. The steel panels come in a large variety of colors and textures that can make it difficult to tell the material is actually metal.
With better factory systems, contractors are able to employ a mix of steel technology and conventional concrete or stucco finishes giving a church a more traditional look, at the same time providing the space that the church needs. In fact, ABC works with a color consultant to ensure they offer a complete color pallet, featuring those colors that are in demand and those that are traditional and always in fashion.
Metal buildings offer the flexibility that every church needs. For large congregations that are quickly outgrowing their current facilities, pre-engineered steel can be used to build more space, faster. When your church is ready to expand, pre-engineered steel offers the ability to get the space necessary at a price the church can often afford.
The First United Methodist Church in Crossville, Tennessee wanted to add on to its historical structure and was very concerned that they not lose the aesthetics of the current building. The church was looking to add fifteen-thousand square feet of sanctuary and nursery expansion. A pre-engineered building completed by J&S Construction satisfied their needs through the architectural features found in traditional construction – the exterior is crab orchard stone and stucco and the painted metal roof is copper colored. This church has forty-five foot ceilings, sheet rock interior walls and connects to the existing sanctuary seamlessly.
Besides the advantages of cost efficiencies and faster construction, another benefit of using steel is its ability to span large spaces without the need of support posts. This is ideal in sanctuary construction, where a clear unobstructed view can be achieved for every seat. As more and more churches are building large gymnasiums and fellowship halls, the ability to span large spaces is important.
For anyone who has ever been involved in a church “workday,” it will thrill you to know that when churches are built using pre-engineered steel, there is far less exterior maintenance. No repainting every year, which translates into less hassle for the church administration—and the congregation.
Many homes and businesses have discovered the advantages of metal roofs. They are beautiful and come in a wide variety of new colors. Metal roofs last longer than traditional, 15- 20 year shingle roofs. They require less ongoing maintenance and, when properly installed, are less likely to leak. That is of extreme importance to any building, and certainly to a religious facility. Steel buildings have less risk of damage from fire, are not affected by termites, and have the ability to withstand the worst weather conditions.
When it comes time for your churches next building project, steel buildings are a great choice. With flexibility of design and prices for a wide range of budgets, steel is an excellent alternative for your sanctuary, gymnasium, classroom space or family life center. Before taking any steps in design or construction, churches should pray and reflect on their building needs, budget, and the mission of the church. Only after prayer and reflection should a designer or design/build team be contacted.
Joe Bontrager is the director of marketing for J&S Construction in Cookeville, Tennesse. J&S is a 48-year-old design/build construction company that has worked on hundreds of church projects, and has done work throughout the southeast. J&S Construction is an authorized American Buildings Company Builder. To learn more about American Buildings Company, the products they offer and examples of church facilities featuring their construction materials, visit their website.
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