How Long Does it Take to Build a New Church
How long does it take to plan and build a new church facility? Although there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to that question, it normally takes approximately 12-18 months to prepare for and build a new church building. However, every church has different circumstances and unique requirements. The timeframe also depends on whether the building process experiences unforeseen challenges or setbacks.
However, there is a general timeframe for each stage of the church-building process. This can give you an idea of how long the sequential steps take to plan and build your new church facility.
The first key decision is to find an experienced church Architect that will be able to guide you from land acquisition to the final walkthrough. They will also help assemble all experts needed to get you to your final goal! They will guide you through every step of the process and keep you informed each step of the way. SPACE understands the mission of the Church — and the importance of creating a space where people feel safe and welcomed when hearing the life changing message of the gospel.
Preparation
Before construction even begins, your church Architect will ensure the preparation stage is thoroughly defined. This will include identifying both the pain points and the successes of your current church. If this is your first building, your church Architect will know what specific questions to ask and information to provide, ensuring your future church can efficiently operate and successfully function for many years to come! Just a few of the areas you will discuss are sufficient office spaces, the children’s department, the proper sanctuary size, adequate parking, church kitchen and/or café, and needed storage areas — just to name a few.
Financial planning
Once you have a clear picture of your future church building goals, you will also have a better gauge of how to financially plan for its construction. Hiring a financial consultant may be a great way to kick off this part of the building process. This is a great time to start creating an exciting “buzz” around your building project! There is no shortage of ideas online on how to get your attendees and community involved and helping you to achieve your financial goals! To keep the momentum going through the entire building process, you can share weekly updates, including photos and video footage, as well events that allow people to be a part of the process and feel a sense of ownership.
Timeline breakdown
Acquiring Land (2+ months)
There are some essential factors to remember when purchasing land for your new church building. The location is what most people focus on first — and yes, location is very important. However, there are other key elements when considering a piece of land, such as the size of the property, the soil conditions, the environmental conditions, available utilities, and possible existing easements. A full-service church Architect knows what to look for and what to avoid and will ensure your land purchase is a good investment that will continually serve your church’s needs.
Conceptual Design (2 months)
This is the process of creating a “big-picture game plan” for building your church. An overview will be established to express your church’s vision, including detailed floor and budget plans. Other elements include identifying, addressing, and finding solutions to any pain points of your current facility, so that your new church building won’t experience those same challenges moving forward.
Full Architectural Engineering Design (3-4 months)
This process hones-in on every little detail to ensure nothing is missed in the planning, design, construction and function of your church. This includes everything from parking lot flow to building materials to the color of the walls — and everything in-between! The Full Architectural Engineering Design combines all the details to create a successful church-building process.
Construction (10-12 months)
When it’s time for the construction phase, many moving parts and things are happening. Some will be easy to see; others will be behind the scenes. It may feel overwhelming or maybe even a little confusing. A full-service church Architect and experienced construction team will make sure you are aware of each step of the construction process and will continue to inform you of any progression, changes, or issues that arise. They will also ensure that you stay on budget and within deadlines.
Other factors affecting the timeline
With so many pieces moving at the same time, there are dozens of factors that affect the timeline of your church building process. Lead by your Architect, your team will foresee and include these in your original schedule. However, if anything unforeseen does happen, your expert team will know how to pivot and readapt to any issues, ensuring your timeline and budget stay on pace.
Some factors that might affect your timeline are:
Size and complexity of the church design
The larger the size and complexity of the church design, the greater the scope of resources, materials, and people needed to manage the design and construction process. Larger projects often take longer to plan and build than smaller ones. Also, the planning and executing of more complex projects may increase the schedule on your project as well.
Site preparation and acquisition
When looking for the ideal property for your new church building, there’s no guarantee that inventory will be available immediately. Once you are interested in a potential property, a long list of factors must be considered to ensure the property is ideal for your project! If minor adjustments need to happen on the property itself, it may add a little time to your schedule.
Permitting and regulatory processes
These processes vary site-to-site. As your property and building plans are evaluated, the specific permits your project will need will be identified. Some review agencies require additional submissions and approvals (such as Site Plan Applications) before building permit applications can even be files, adding significant time to the overall schedule. If an adjustment needs to be made, or if there is a delay in attaining these permits, this will have schedule impacts.
Construction materials
The more intricate the project, the longer it can take to acquire all the required materials and building supplies. Your Construction Manager will have an entire network of suppliers to help get your building materials, equipment and systems onsite when needed according to the construction schedule. Recent challenges with the material supply system may require that some items be purchased in advance to ensure they are available when needed.
Availability of skilled labor
There will be many people working on constructing your church — each one offering their expertise to one of the many aspects of the building process. Every one of them also has their own scheduling and availability, controlled by your Construction Manager. For large or complex projects, coordinating availability and timeframes may also add some time to your building schedule.
Possible setbacks
With any large construction project comes the possibility of setbacks or delays. Many of these are manageable and will be resolved even if it takes additional time. Your Architect and your Construction Manager will work to identify ways in which the lost time might be made up. Some common delays are due to:
Unforeseen site conditions
Weather and seasonal limitations
Supply chain disruptions
Permitting and regulatory hurdles
Change orders and scope modifications
Your experienced church Architect will know how to navigate any issue that arises with the goal that your church project stays within your original budget and timeframe.
Set your church up for success
It’s essential to surround yourself with experts that possess a common goal to help, encourage and support you through the unknowns in the process of developing a new church facility. Deciding on an experienced church Architect is vital to setting your church build up for success. They will have the expertise and knowledge for every area of this process, not just the architecture. A full-service church Architect will help you with everything from land acquisition to installing energy-efficient appliances, providing a welcoming interior design, and doing the final walk-through. They will also be able to seamlessly adjust if/when any obstacles occur. Think of a church Architect as your personal guide and expert for assembling your “team” and building your new church building!
SPACE
SPACE understands that your church is more than just a building. As a full-service Architect with successful church building projects completed across the country, we know what it takes to plan for and build a church which will serve your people for years into the future! Equally important is our ability to identify potential issues ahead of time, and if necessary, navigate unexpected problems. We know how to adapt at every stage, keeping you on track from start to finish.