5 Tips for a Successful New Church Project

1. Determine the needs of your congregation.
After choosing to pursue a building project, it is a good idea to have a "vision" meeting with the members of your church.  This meeting will expose the wishes and needs that your congregation wants met in the new facility.  Once these needs have been determined, your decision-making team should prioritize them.  This will give you a list of priorities that can be shared with your design professional.        

2. Choose building professionals with experience in church construction.
Church construction projects are very different from residential, commercial, or industrial projects.  As such, they require significant understanding and insight.  Churches should always look for professionals who are experienced in religious construction projects 

3. Realistically assess your resources and your budget early on in a project.
One mistake churches make is to miscalculate, or to not calculate the financial and personal resources required in a new building project.  Often, churches begin planning a project that is well beyond their means, only to find that they are unable to obtain the necessary amount of financing.  It is always a good idea to talk to your bank or lending institution early on so that you can gain a good idea of what financial resources you will have during a project. 
   
4. Develop a realistic timeframe of how long the project will take. 
Many churches think that a building project progresses much quicker than it really does.  From planning to completion, the average church project usually takes anywhere from 14 months to 3 years to complete.
   
5. Keep future goals in mind when building your new facility.
The needs your church has today will not be the same ones you will have 5 years from now.  Therefore, it is important to consider potential future needs, and plan accordingly.  Some considerations may include:
• Sufficient electrical circuits in the sanctuary
• Ample audio support for monitor speakers/microphones, amplifiers, and instruments.
• Wiring for future computer networking/electronic needs
• Ability to support future A/V or multimedia enhancements
• Platform space for future musical/worship opportunitiesBy keeping these points in mind, you will be better prepared for a successful building project.