I was walking through the Church Development Services office today and saw this huge binder sitting on a desk.  It has to weigh everything of 10 pounds! I put it next to the cup of coffee I was enjoying just so you could truly appreciate the scale – its not a trick of photography, it is as thick as my cup is tall!

This manual is the architectural design guidelines for WINDOWS AND DOORS!  That’s right, it ONLY covers Division 8  (Windows and Doors) of the 16 original Construction Divisions for as defined by the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)’s MasterFormat (2003 edition).  Can you imagine the totally of all the design standards when you add just some of the other divisions like General Requirements, Site Construction, Concrete, Masonry, Finishes, Mechanical, Electrical, or any of the nearly 50 divisions that exist in the 2004 revision?

And these are just general design standards, churches have their own unique needs.  Church design is not easy and a proper church building plan that not only complies with the proper building and design codes, but is tailored to the unique needs of your ministry, is a vital step in any church building program.

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The principle of first things first would dictate that before you begin designing your new church, you must objectively ask and answer some very important questions that will define the scope, budget and timing of your building program. Believe it or not, answers are easy - the trick is in knowing what questions to ask, and knowing how to map those answers into a building plan.This is what God has called and equipped us to do, to come along side of your church to provide this necessary experience.

Unlike many architectural firms, we will not engage in the design of a church plan that is not within the financial ability of the church.  Millions of dollars are wasted each year by churches on building plans that never get built because the church could not afford them. We will not be party to such a waste of Kingdom resources.

For your protection, we will ask and answer the questions that will define in detail:

• The building requirements to support the vision and mission
• The land requirements to support the vision and mission
• The financial ability of the church and how it will pay for the building program

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Most churches start the process of building improperly due to lack of experience. It is highly likely your church will never undertake a task that is more demanding or complicated in terms of cost, risk, and effort, than it will in a church building program. Following a proper process will insure your church builds the right solution and makes the best and highest use of its limited money, time, and manpower resources.

One of the many challenges faced by churches when contemplating building programs is the fact that they don’t know what they don’t know.   The problem with not knowing what you don’t know is that you think you know all you need to know.  The old saying, “ignorance is bliss” is true, but bliss will quickly turn to dismay as you get further into the building program.

Lack of experience leads to huge gaps in knowledge. Very seldom are the people leading the building program truly equipped by either training or experience to lead the church through a building program in an optimum fashion.   Gaps in knowledge cost the church time and money, and will lead to costly planning and execution mistakes.

The purpose of a feasibility study is to provide the church with a qualified report of objective and quantifiable information, and an actionable plan. A needs and feasibility study produces a plan that will define the scope, timing and budget of a building program, and is instrumental in building and maintaining unity in the body of Christ. The needs and feasibility study will ask and answer the correct questions to determine the most feasible of the possible options that, within the actual financial ability of the church, best meet the needs of the ministry, the congregation, and the community. You will know that you know that you know what to do and why that is the right answer – and so will your congregation.

Further reading on understanding the predesign process of  understanding needs and feasibility in a church building program.

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We Provide Options in Church Construction

Church Development Services (CDS) offers several project delivery and contracting solutions specifically designed to meet your church’s needs, abilities, project cost, time, and risk management goals.  Our church construction solutions maximize spiritual benefit and construction value while protecting the church by reducing its risk and stress. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages; depending on the church, scope of the project, and other factors, one solution will be a better fit than others.

Design-Bid-Build (General Contractor)

Arguably a more traditional method of construction delivery, general contracting has long been a common solution. An architect is hired to design the project and the General Contractor is hired based on fixed not to exceed price estimates based on those designs. The architect and builder are hired under separate contracts, creating a dynamic tension.  Much of the risk of construction overruns are assumed by the contractor.

Design-Build

CDS provides both the design and church construction services for your new facilities. This method is typically more efficient for the church than design-bid-build where you hire an architect to design the building, send the plans out to bid, and then hire a builder.  Design-build removes a step in the process, eliminates finger pointing between builder and architect, and typically provides superior cost controls, as the design team works with the construction team to value engineer the project during the design phase.

Construction Management (CM)

This method has quickly gained acceptance as an alternative to General Contracting. With CM, CDS acts as an agent on behalf of the church to oversee the construction process. Typically preformed on a flat fee or cost plus basis, CM offers the utmost in transparency and cost savings to the church. Financial control tends to be stronger because of how money is handled. CDS also provides a CM solution in the capacity of a design and construction manager, providing the same benefits found in Design-Build.

Turnkey Solution or Owners Agent

CDS plans, directs, and manages the entire church construction project on behalf of the church. CDS acts as your agent and consultant working with the architect, engineers, attorneys, accountants, bankers and public officials to provide a complete and turnkey solution.  We manage the bidding process, provide project administration, and manage the subcontractors on behalf of the church through to project completion.

Your Project – Your Choice

CDS can deliver your church construction project using any of these methods, so you can trust that we are not going to sell you into one particular methodology.  We help you understand the strengths and weaknesses of all the options in your particular situation, and recommend the solution that will best meet your needs.

The Million Dollar Question -What Is Best For Your Church? Design-Bid-Build, Design-Build, Construction Management, or a Turnkey Solution?

With several church construction delivery and contracting methods available in the design and construction of a new facility, how do you know what is best for your church?

With the experience gained through hundreds of church building projects, Church Development Services (CDS) is able to deliver your church building project using any of these methods; so rest assured we are not going to force you into “our way”. At CDS, we will help you understand the strengths and weaknesses of each church construction option as they apply to your unique situation. We will then recommend the right solution to best meet the needs and goals of the church.

We are honored to help your church expand the Kingdom through a building program. We look forward to an opportunity to learn more about your church and explore how we can be of assistance.

Contact us for more information.

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The Church Capital Campaign: Five Things You Need to Know About Raising Money to Build

1. You Will Need to Do It. In excess of 95% of churches need or should run a capital campaign as part of their financial strategy to build and/or retire debt.
2. You Need Start Sooner Than You Think. The ideal time to start a church capital campaign is often 3 years before you begin construction.  Be like the wise ant that stored up in the summer for the coming winter.
3. A Capital Campaign is Biblical (or can be). Our Abundant Giving Capital Campaign is based on the Word of God and best practices of implementation honed by thousands of churches over decades.
4. It’s Harder Than It Looks. As evidenced by the historical fact that churches that do not get professional assistance raise on average one-half of those that use a professional coach/consultant.
5. We can help. We don’t ask that take our word for it, read the testimonials from other churches.

What Is a Capital Campaign?

A capital campaign is a spiritual endeavor that produces huge financial results. A capital campaign is an important part of every church’s financial strategy, whether it is looking to raise money for construction or retire debt. One of the goals of the capital stewardship program is to help people understand that a Kingdom need gets a Kingdom provision, and that this provision is made through the proper stewardship of God’s people.

What To Expect From Our Church Capital Campaign

There are many benefits from a church capital campaign which may be categorized as spiritual and financial.

The spiritual benefits of a professionally facilitated capital campaign are:

• Improved biblical understanding of God’s plan of providence and stewardship
• Increased faith in the promises of God
• The blessings that flow from doing things God’s way as it pertains to stewardship
• Increased spiritual excitement
• Increased unity in the body

The financial benefits of a professionally facilitated church capital campaign are well documented.

• Additional financial support raised typically over three years that typically ranges between 1 and 3 times current tithes and offerings.
• A 10% to 15% increase in giving to the general fund.
• An immediate influx of cash from up-front giving.
• Continued regular support over the giving period, typically 3 years.

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What is ChurchPlanSource? ChurchPlanSource.com is a service of Church Development Services (CDS).  For 30 years, CDS has been assisting churches, and only churches, with the design and construction of their facilities.  Many churches who are contemplating building will search for digital church plans online, so we wanted to give you a small taste of nearly 1,000 church building plans we have developed over three decades.  We have tried to present a cross section of plans that you and we can use as a catalyst for further conversation.

Can I Save Money Using Your Plans?  The simple answer is yes.  Our church clients save both time and money by modifying (sometimes quite extensively) any of our plans.  Historically we have saved churches between 35-50% of their design costs.

Why choose Church Development Services Over A Local Architect or Design-Build Firm? First and foremost, it is because we specialize in churches.  There is often a world of difference between an architect and a church architect.  Secondly, this is our ministry to the expansion of the Kingdom. It is not “business as usual”, but how we minister to the church.  If we cannot provide you a superior service at a price equal to or lower than your local firm, we will be the first to tell you so.

What comes first, the building plan so we can develop a cost-based budget, or a budget to guide us to the right plan? When you ask the question that way, the question almost answers itself. The church cannot afford to design something it cannot afford to pay for. Building design should start with understanding your actual ministry needs and an objective understanding of what you can afford to build and how you will pay for it.  These are two areas we help churches with nearly every day.  Contact us for more information.

Why choose master site planning services? Master site planning is basically taking your property and planning it to its fullest potential. This would include maximum building sizes, parking spaces, hard surface/green space ratios, and possible outdoor recreational facilities. Master site planning helps the church in deciding if their property is going to be sufficient for their long term growth desires, or if additional or different property is a better way to proceed.  It will also insure that you build your earliest phases in a manner that do not compromise later phases or cause the church to tear down and rebuild when they did not have to do so. Many churches proceed without any Master site planning at all, only to discover a few years down the road the building they last built is in the wrong place for their next needs. A Master Plan would help you to map out the future of your church, without any misplaced structures or parking demolition.  If you would like to talk to us about Master site planning for your church, feel free to give us a call.

How do we purchase a church building plan from? Start with our contact form and we will guide you through the process of determining if you are ready, and if so, getting you the right design for your ministry.  We have done this process thousands of times, allow us to show you the way.

Are the plans designed for steel construction? Depending on which church building plan you are inquiring about, the plan may be for either steel or wood frame. If the plan you desire is wood and you need it to be steel we can usually accommodate your needs, and vice-versa.

Can we make changes to the plans? Absolutely!  In fact the plan will always need some modification to meet local building codes, not to mention your unique needs or desires.

What if the plans are too large or small? Plans can be modified or we can often find similar plans in a different size.  Remember, only a very small percentage of our plans are online.

What areas does Church Development Services serve? We offer certified drawings within the continental USA. 

The post FAQ appeared first on Church Plan Source.

Why Select CDS as Your Church Architect?  Because we are church Architects, we only design churches and church related facilities.  Church Development Services equates the choice of your architectural consultant to the choice of a heart surgeon. If you were having heart trouble, you would want a surgeon with many years of experience and many surgical procedures under their belt to perform your surgery. Your architectural consultant is the surgeon for your new church.

Experience speaks for itself.

There is a lot of difference between an architect and a church architect. CDS and its associates have the experience of nearly 30 years and 1,000 church projects. Our focus is not, however, on just designing churches – but on seeing the churches built for ministry and the effective working out of the church’s mission of expanding the Kingdom. Our church architectural services are geared towards seeing buildings built, not just designed.

We know cost-effective church design and we understand how to work with churches. We are a full service church architectural design firm with ministry focus and pricing. Because of our in-depth church design experience and a library of nearly 1,000 church plans, we are able to deliver high quality church building plans very cost effectively.

And while saving money is important, even more important is how well the building plan meets the real ministry needs of the church, now and in the future. In the years to come, you will forget how much you paid for your church building plans, but not how well your building plans support or hinder your ministry.

Because of our extensive understanding and history of effective church design, we believe we provide both superior price and value.

Assuredly pricing is a factor in the decision for many churches. By utilizing “previously designed proven plans,” you eliminate the design development stages of your project. This time-saving step in the creation of your building is what helps us to cut your design cost by an average of 50%, and to pass those savings on to you. We will provide you with the best structure you can build for your money.

In addition, we take the ministry component very seriously. We will not engage in a design program with a church unless we are comfortable the church can afford to build the building. Millions of dollars each year are wasted on church building plans that never get built, most of them because the church could not afford the plans as designed. We refuse to contribute to this waste of Kingdom resources

The new church building will be the central gathering place for the congregation, the ‘heart’ of your ministry. Church Development Services understands that the “church” is the people and that the “building” is just a tool used for ministry. Our goal is to provide you with a quality tool for your ministry use. Because we are backed by 30 years of experience in designing and planning churches, with over 1000 completed projects to date, we feel we are properly equipped to formulate and assess your needs. We have an extensive reference list, and testimonial letters from pastors available for your review.

In today’s world of telephones, email, instant messaging, and internet web sites, no one is far away. A company you choose could be in your back yard, or half a world away. It is that company’s dedication to your needs that should weigh in your decision, not the location of its office. As your project develops, you will build a relationship with our company.

It is Church Development Services’ experience and personal involvement in each project that sets us apart from standard architecture firms.

If we may be of further assistance in answering any other questions for you or your congregation, feel free to contact us any time!

The post Why Choose Church Development Services Over a Local Architect? appeared first on Church Plan Source.

Before your church gets involved in a building project, make sure you count the cost.
-By Jeff Dunn – updated and expanded upon with the assistance of ChurchPlanSource.com

The decision to expand St. James United Methodist Church’s building was an easy one to make. “We knew it was time to expand,” says Jeffrey Johnson, associate pastor of the Tulsa, Oklahoma church, “when we couldn’t squeeze one more child in a Sunday school classroom.”

For others the decision to build is not as clear. South Dayton (Ohio) Presbyterian leased an auditorium from a local Seventh-day Adventist school for 6-1/2 years before breaking ground for their own complex. “We could have waited another year to collect more funds,” reflects Don Ward, pastor of South Dayton Presbyterian.

Both Johnson and Ward confess to making mistakes during the planning and building process. These pastors, along with several construction and financial planning experts, talked with MINISTRIES TODAY about what to do and what not to do when launching a church building project.

Here are mistakes often made by pastors in building or expanding their churches. We hope you can avoid the same pitfalls.

Mistake #1. Failure to conduct a needs analysis.

Yes, you realize you need more space. But what kind of space do you need? Can existing space be utilized, or will you have to add to your building? Do you have the land to expand?

Design is probably the 3rd or 4th step of a building program.  Before you can design, you need to have a fact-based understanding of current and projected needs.  Secondly, you need to understand what you can afford and how you will pay for it.  Lastly understand what the land will support, make sure it will handle the vision.  This process will proceed every successful church design project, and is commonly referred to as understanding needs and feasibility.
“Don’t think of building what you need now,” says Johnson. “Plan to build what you will need five years from now.” Johnson explains that shortly after the first phase of St. James’ building was finished in 1988, they were already overcrowded in classroom space. Wise use of space above several rooms allowed for a temporary solution until the second phase could begin in 1996.

“Build a building that can be added onto,” says Johnson. “Start from the end- what you want it all to look like- and work back. Picture what the whole campus should look like after all the phases are completed.”

“A healthy church will grow,” says Johnson enthusiastically. “Build your church to accommodate growth.”

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Mistake #2. Selecting the wrong architect or builder.

We believe it is imperative to choose a Christian church architect.

A Christian perspective allows the architect to ask the right questions, and his expertise in churches allows him to understand the use of your building. After all, a building is a tool for ministry. The fellow down the block who designs strip malls won’t have the proper understanding of your needs, no matter the depth of his faith.

Ward chose a Christian builder and trusted that as a Christian he would do everything in an upright manner. Now he wishes he had not been so trusting. The contractor was using money given him by Ward’s church to pay subcontractors on other jobs. Money soon ran out for Ward’s project.

“If he had been a secular contractor,” says Ward, “we would have held his feet to the fire. Now I know that just because a worker is Christian doesn’t mean we should fail to hold him accountable. Set up procedures and then stick to them. Don’t take excuses.”

Ward admits he did not check the builder’s references closely enough. He suggests checking the two or three most recent projects completed by the builder rather than ones done several years ago.

“If he has any history of late payments,” warns Ward, “you don’t want anything to do with him, whether he is the lowest bidder or not.”

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Mistake #3. Relying on the architect’s cost estimate.

Scott Rolfs, assistant vice president with B. C. Ziegler and Co., a firm specializing in church financing of large-dollar ($1 million or more) projects, sees this problem arise constantly.

“We look at any number of multi-million dollar projects every week,” he says. “The architect tells the church it is a $1.2 million to $1.5 million project; then the bids come back from the builders 10 to 20 percent higher. The problem is the pastor has sold the congregation on the architect’s price. The congregation gets ‘sticker shock’ when they are told what it will really cost to build.”

Then there are the costs not written into the original plans that can end up adding tens of thousands of dollars to the project- or shutting it down completely. Things not foreseen by the architect, such as street improvements or the addition of a traffic light can drastically increase the overall cost.

CDS has the advantage of being BOTH an experience church design firm and builder.  We have real-life construction data for current projects around the country.  We don’t have to rely on theoretical prices out of a manual, we know what real buildings cost.

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Mistake #4. Improper site selection.

Proper site selection is the key, says Ward. “It makes all the difference,” he insists. “We chose a site on a high-traffic road. We get a lot of visitors just from drive-bys.”

But it is a much more difficult chore than it was a decade or so ago, today there are numerous environmental and zoning issues to deal with.   Environmental issues are all too often an unseen trap that can cost the church a great deal of money.  But environmental issues aside, you need to also make sure the zoning and land use are suitable for your needs. Site development costs can make an otherwise wonderful piece of property financially unrealistic.   The availability of utilities, road improvement costs, mitigation of wetlands, bad soils or endangered species can all put a building program out of reach.  Last, but not least, will the land support the future vision of the church?

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Mistake #5. Failure to plan for adequate parking.

“Leave room for growth,” is the advice of Rolfs. “If your lot is full, visitors won’t stop.” Ward knows this to be true. They have been in their new building for only two years, and already their parking is overflowing.

“We have 20 cars a week parking across the street,” says Ward. “On Easter Sunday it was more than 40.”

Most city zoning codes call for a ratio of 1 car to every 4 or 5 seats in the sanctuary when it comes to planning parking. But Ward and others agree that  a more realistic ratio is 1-to-2 or 1-to-2.5. Local building code is often times insufficient to provide adequate parking to fill the building.  This can lead to investment in building square feet of space that you can never use.
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Mistake #6. Unrealistic projection of income or inadequate cash on hand.

This sixth mistake can easily outweigh all the others up to this point. You can have great planning, great drawings, a beautiful and environmentally friendly site, and room for all the cars Ford will make in a year. Yet without proper financing, all your plans will lie in a drawer gathering dust.

The church financing game has changed. A church can no longer afford to keep financing as a final afterthought. It must be done very early in the process. Before 2008, money was easier to get and lending requirements were more relaxed. Now the project equity percentage has risen dramatically, as well as documented disposable cash needed for payments. Church financing has become very difficult and specialized.

If your church isn’t in some sort of formal capital campaign, lending institutions view this as the congregation not being committed to the project. Congregations must remember that financial institutions are no longer looking for reasons to say ‘Yes’, they are looking for reasons to say ‘No’. A capital campaign will improve the likelihood of getting a church loan and well as improve the terms.

Rolfs also encourages churches to be realistic about the sale of their existing site. “Church properties don’t turn quickly,” he says. “The normal marketing time for church property is 8 to 30 months. And, if you are in a smaller town, your prospects are limited.”

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Mistake #7. Getting on the bad side of city government.

Says Johnson, “You never want to make the city your enemy. ”We’ve taken huge shots from the city. Fifty thousand dollars to install storm water management when we first built, another $75,000 during our second phase to correct it. They said it wasn’t up to specs- but it was their specs we followed in the first place!” Ward concurs, “We’ve had mega-problems with the city. They are extremely inflexible and legalistic.” It would seem that “friends” like these could easily become your enemies.

You only get one chance to make a first impression, so get an architect and site engineer involved early in the process to insure the plans you want to build are compatible with the zoning and land use, and don’t expect special treatment because you are a church!

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Mistake #8. Allowing the project to overwhelm your life.

The very week Don Ward was to witness the dedication of his new church building to the service of the Lord, he almost left the church. ”I got too emotionally involved,” he says. “I felt I was carrying it all on my back. As a result, my wife and I felt burned out. I had a job offer the week before our dedication service.” He turned it down and is glad today he did.

“It would have been a mistake,” he admits. “We have had dramatic growth since the dedication. I just didn’t have a good infrastructure under me in the church. Now we are talking expansion again, but I won’t make the same mistake. I’ve told the church, ‘If you want to build, you do the work.’ I’m not even going to all the meetings.”

Take a queue from Moses and Solomon.  Both of these men of God got outside help for their building programs.

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Mistake #9. Not praying for the construction workers.

How easy it is for us to miss opportunities to see God work right in front of us each day! Johnson was able to see God’s faithfulness in answering prayer as the first phase of St. James was being built in 1988. ”We prayed for the safety of the workers everyday,” says Johnson. “One afternoon a carpenter put his foot through the roof and fell what would have been about 40 feet. He reached out and grabbed a beam in the sanctuary. One of our members walked in right then and was able to get him down. What a miracle from our Lord! And that worker was in church the next Sunday.”

Don’t lose sight of why you are building - to expand the Kingdom of God. Workers on your building project are a captive audience to which you can show the love of Christ.

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Mistake #10. Waiting to celebrate until the building is complete.

Johnson tells how his church celebrated the completion of various steps. For instance, when they had completed their fund-raiser for the second construction phase, the church hosted a catered dinner at a nice restaurant for all the adults in the congregation. They held an “Enlarge the “Harvest” concert one Friday night just to gather the members in an attitude of praise to God for His faithfulness thus far in the project. ”And celebrate big when you finish,” suggests Johnson. “Be sure to recognize all those who helped make it possible.”

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Mistake # 11. Ordering that “On Sale for a Limited Time Steel Building Package”

Many church boards are lured into the possibility of saving a substantial amount of money by ordering a “package deal” offered by steel building dealers. In many instances, the building package has a limited number of door and window openings; any additional openings create a heavy additional charge or surcharge.  In the worse case, it is misleading sales practices for which at least one major supplier of steel buildings has lost a class action suit.

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Mistake # 12. Failing to understand the need or value of an architect.

Even if you are in one of the few places left in the country that do not require sealed architectural plans, you still should get get them.  The seal of the architect removes the liability of faulty design from the church.  If at a later date someone gets hurt, or worse, in your building due to an issue of design, the architect is liable, not the church.  In our litigious society, that is a wise investment.  We would recommend you find an architect that specializes in churches as the space needs, traffic flow, and overall design are unique – not something that you can pick up from a book.

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As drawn, Church Building Plan 05-275/130 is approximately 5,000 sq ft. with a seating capacity of approximately 275.  This church floor plan also includes 3 classrooms and a nursery.  All of our church designs may be modified for size, layout of rooms, and exterior style.

For more information on this or other church building plans, use our contact form. Please indicate the plan or plan numbers of interest in the comment field provided.

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As drawn, Church Building Plan 05-300/126 is approximately 6,400 sq. ft. with a seating capacity of approximately 300 in a sanctuary that can double as a fellowship hall.  This church floor plan also includes 4 classrooms, a kitchen, and office space.  All of our church designs may be modified for size, layout of rooms, and exterior style.

For more information on this or other church building plans, use our contact form. Please indicate the plan or plan numbers of interest in the comment field provided.

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