MANY CHURCHES HAVE THE SAME NEEDS

Like many growing Churches, Elizabeth Baptist was outgrowing its facilities. Elizabeth needed a much bigger fellowship hall, more Sunday School space, and more office space. Also like many churches they did not have much land and their existing facilities had been added to many times and were all cut up. The direction to our design team was “Help!”

FIRST STEP

When possible, the first thing we like to do for a new church client is to develop a master plan for the entire campus. This master plan includes all the existing land and facilities, so we know what we are dealing with. Then we ask the church what their needs and desires are. Next, we design the best way to meet those needs and desires in the context of what they already have. One of the most important parts about that design is to think about what the church will need to do 10, 20 or even 50 years into the future so they do not shoot themselves in the foot today.

AT ELIZABETH BAPTIST CHURCH

Through an iterative process with the Congregation at Elizabeth the design became a 12,000 square foot fellowship hall along with a 6,000 square foot office suite. The fellowship hall holds 500 people and is designed with a stage that has theatrical lighting and sound. The main auditorium is acoustically designed. This space is being used for many things including simulcasting Sunday morning worship services. Also included is a smaller dining room for receptions and serving. Both spaces are served by a full commercial kitchen. Although new Sunday School Space was not built, new Sunday School Space was provided by converting the vacated office space when the new office suite was built. This is a small example of the benefits of a master plan.

DOES IT FIT?

We are always aware that one of the big keys to successful church projects is making the additions look like they belong to the existing campus. A second big key is any addition done well should help the existing buildings work better. We always try to make the entire Church campus flow better in terms of people and traffic.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU?

Upland Architects knows that working with Churches is different than almost any other type of client. It takes special knowledge and care to work with ministers, lay people, committees, and congregations. It also takes an understanding of and passion for the work of the Church. Upland Architects has decades of experience working with Churches.