How to Choose a Church Architect
Your church is growing and needs a new or larger space — that’s exciting! Growth and change can be an energizing part of ministry. But with that growth excitement comes many questions and unknowns like, “Should my church build a new building, or would converting an existing building serve us better?” “If we need to buy land, where should it be, and how will I know if it’s a good deal?” “We know what we need, but we’re unsure how actually to fulfill those needs.” “Should I hire an architect that specializes in church design & construction?
Finding a team to design and build your church doesn’t have to be intimidating. However, knowing what to look for and what questions to ask can help immensely on your journey to find the team for your church building!
What is the role of an architect?
The architect is the person or team who coordinates every service and stage in your building process. They are responsible as the listening ear and spokesperson to make sure your vision is understood and carried out by everyone involved. From the first conversation through the certificate of occupancy, the architect acts on behalf of the church coordinating all aspects of the design and construction process.
An architect ensures that all parties involved stick to the timeframe and budget. They also communicate any changes or issues that arise and help create a unique growth solution to keep everything moving forward in the project’s best interests.
As you know, a church is more than an attractive building — it is its people and the culture it represents. That’s why it’s important to choose an architect that specializes in church architecture. A church architect who understands the heart of the Church and the call of ministry will understand how a church functions and be able to create an efficient, comfortable, safe ministry building for the people gathering inside.
What qualities and values should you look for in a church architect?
Even though every church’s vision and building needs are different, there are important core values that every client should seek from a church architect, such as:
An Understanding of the Heart of the Church
A church architect who understands the church’s purpose, goals, and core mission will be able to grasp your vision better and carry it to completion.
An Understanding of Ministry Functions
The inner workings of ministry include many elements and moving parts. A church architect who understands ministry knows how to create a comfortable, safe, and functional space so that you can focus on the ministry of your people.
Thoroughness and Attentiveness
Being attentive to every detail and ensuring accuracy helps maintain your vision’s clarity and intercept potential problems before they arise.
Proactivity
A church architect who is diligent and prepared will intervene in all necessary stages of the building process to ensure everything stays on schedule and flows as smoothly as possible.
Integrity
Knowing that your church architect has your best interests at heart and doesn’t simply view you as a “sale” will give you peace of mind that their work—seen and unseen—will be honest and transparent.
Active Communicator
Strong communication both ways is crucial. Having a church architect that initiates consistent communication will give you confidence throughout the progression of your church project. Additionally, having direct access to all key team members ensures that everyone stays informed and unified from the beginning to the end of your project.
Great Listener
Hiring a church architect capable of designing a church isn’t enough. You need a church architect that actively listens to your specific needs, unique vision, and particular perspective.
Commitment to Fulfill Your Vision, not Theirs
Once you share your needs and vision, it is the church architect’s job to translate it and develop it into a plan of action around that unique vision. A church architect should never put their style or desires above the client’s.
A Few Things to Ask and Consider in Your First Steps
These are all critical qualities, but how do you find a church architect that possesses them all? Here are a few key indicators to reaffirm their core values. They will help you find a church architect with these qualities and filter out the ones that don’t.
Ask for testimonies of past clients.
A church architect should be more than willing to share strong references of past clients with you. However, consider asking the architect for a contact name of a project that didn’t go as planned. Being able to talk to a previous client that didn’t have a perfect experience will show whether the architect was willing to help solve any issues or unforeseen problems that did arise.
Connecting with past clients offers you “insider” feedback about the architect’s track record and gives you a better idea of the quality of their work, communication, support, and process.
Are they relational and enjoyable to work with?
An experienced church architect understands the importance of consistent, open communication with the client, as well as the importance of high-quality work on the building design itself. Ask the church architect if you will have direct access and communication with all key team members working on your project. This will help give you an idea of how easy or difficult communication will be throughout the building process and save a lot of frustration.
Beyond confirming open lines of communication, establishing trust and a strong personal relationship from the beginning is highly important. Has their communication been smooth and enjoyable from the start? Based on your first interactions, is this a group you can trust and rely on moving forward?
Get examples of similar church projects completed.
Finding out how many similar church projects the church architect has completed and seeing examples can be constructive in deciding whether they are a good fit for your church. Not every church builds from the ground up. Sometimes it is more efficient to choose an existing building (i.e., convert a big-box store). No matter which option is the best decision for your church’s unique needs, hiring a church architect familiar with and understanding all the factors of those options is vital.
Do their fees make sense?
“You get what you pay for” is a well-known saying that also applies to finding a church architect. Don’t base your decision on the cheapest fees because you will most likely end up regretting the decision. But don’t expect an architect that charges extremely high fees to offer a quality that necessarily lives up to the cost. Make sure you and the architect have a clear understanding and agreement on the fees being charged and the services being rendered.
Some Starting Questions You Can Ask
Keeping some basic questions in mind will help you search for a church architect as you narrow down and ultimately choose the right fit for your church project. In addition to the questions below, write down any other specific questions you have:
How many church projects have you been involved in?
Have you done our type of church project before?
What can I expect to receive with my church’s budget of $_____?
Will I have direct access and communication with all key team members?
What do you offer beyond the standard architectural services (design, construction drawings, administration, FF&E selection)?
Finding a church architect can be intimidating and overwhelming. However, knowing some essential qualities to look for and basic questions to ask can help you find a church architect that is perfect for your exciting church building project!