Helpful Construction Information

Budgeting Your Church Building Project


Understanding Building Construction Cost vs Total Project Cost


We want to make you aware of something very important when considering the cost of your new facility. Jesus made a very practical point in Luke 14:28 when He said, “Is there anyone planning to build a building, who doesn’t first sit down and figure the total cost, so they’ll know if they can afford it?” Unfortunately, many churches have been caught off-guard when it comes to the actual and total cost of their building PROJECT.

The problem lies in not being aware of the difference between the COST of building your BUILDING (Church Building Construction Budget) and the TOTAL COST of the PROJECT (Project Budget). Here’s what we mean by that:

The BUILDING construction cost is only one item in your total expense. Added to that are all the other critically important cost items needed to actually complete your project. Combining the BUILDING CONSTRUCTION COSTS and these other COSTS gives you the cost of your ENTIRE PROJECT.

We don’t want you to be unaware of these other items, so we have included a list of potential expenses (variables) associated with your building project. These are significant and can make up to 30% of the total cost of your project.

Although this list is not all-inclusive, we hope that it gives you a good understanding of what you should budget, for good stewardship.


Design Cost

  1. Master planning fees
  2. Architectural fees
  3. MEP engineering fees
  4. Structural engineering fees
  5. Landscape design
  6. Specialty design fees
  7. Pre-construction fees
  8. Civil engineering
  9. Soils engineering and testing
  10. Environmental testing


Land Acquisition

  1. Land purchase
  2. Appraisals
  3. Title insurance
  4. Realtor fees & closing costs
  5. Legal fees
  6. Environmental
  7. Preliminary civil engineering
  8. Boundary and topographic surveys


Site Cost

  1. Earthwork & site clearing (many variables)
  2. Site improvements including water taps & other utilities landscaping
  3. Exterior lighting
  4. Parking lot
  5. Off-site improvements


Building Cost

  1. Construction insurance
  2. Foundations
  3. Structure
  4. Exterior walls and finishes
  5. Roof system
  6. Mechanical & plumbing system
  7. Electrical system
  8. All fixed interiors i.e. wall framing, drywall, flooring and ceilings
  9. Painting
  10. General requirements & supervision
  11. General contractor overhead
  12. General contractor fee


Financial Costs through Construction

  1. Fund raising
  2. Interim construction financing
  3. Permanent financing
  4. Lending fees and points
  5. Insurance


Other Construction Costs & Permitting Fees

  1. Local plan review costs
  2. Building permits
  3. Zoning approvals
  4. Conditional use permits
  5. Demolition and/or asbestos abatement
  6. Exterior signage
  7. Impact fees
  8. Contingency
  9. Allowances


Additional Occupancy Expenses

  1. Furniture, fixtures & equipment
  2. Kitchen equipment
  3. Audio & video equipment
  4. Specialty lighting products
  5. Computers
  6. Custodial equipment & supplies
  7. Maintenance services
  8. Security systems
  9. Cabling
  10. Phones
  11. Acoustical treatments
  12. Window coverings
  13. Amenities such as playground, outdoor fire side seating, fitness center, secure kids’ play
    area, café/coffee shop, wireless internet, etc.


Although this list might seem daunting, truly it is not. S-B Construction Group and BGW Architects will come alongside you to see your realistic total cost of the project (Project Budget), and not just the cost of building your building (Building Construction Cost), created. We use our knowledge of current market-costs, our extensive experience, and our historical data to provide, as accurately as possible, your preliminary Total Cost of the Project (Project Budget). And ultimately, we will come alongside you to see your completed project come in within your budget!


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Rules of Thumb in Designing Your Church Facility

Size and Space Allocations (governed by applicable codes)


When designing your property master plan and church building, the following are some general rules of thumb for proper planning:


PROPERTY

Usable Land Required:
Approximately, one acre of usable land is required for each 100 – 125 people in your near-future vision. This is sufficient to provide for your worship center, third-place, youth/children’s facility, offices, landscaping and parking. An adult-education space, recreation/fitness area, benevolent center, school, maintenance building, etc., may require additional land.


Retention/Detention Swell:
.5 acre for every 5 acres.


PARKING

Parking Needs:
One usable acre of parking for every 250 – 275 people.


Parking for Disabilities:
One handicapped space per 25 parking spots, up to 100, plus, one handicapped space per 50 parking spots, up to 200, plus, one handicapped space per 100 parking spots, up to 500. 2% handicapped parking above 500 parking spots.


Parking Area:
Should be able to accommodate between 100 – 110 cars per usable acre. Realistic gathering needs: Use one parking stall per 2 – 2.5 seats. Local building codes will require and/or church may desire, islands of vegetation/lighting within the parking lot, which could reduce the number of cars per acre.


TOTAL FACILITY SIZE

Main auditorium seating multiplied by 55 – 60 sf.


WORSHIP CENTER/AUDITORIUM

Building Footprint:
15 – 20 sf per person.


Main Floor Seating Area:
10 – 12.5 sf per person.


Stage, Support, and Backstage:
15 – 20% of seating area.


Praise Band Area:
20 – 25 sf per instrument.


Praise Team Area:
15 – 20 sf per person.


Choir Area:
10% of congregational seating.


Video Projection Screens:
For the minimum width (in inches), allow 2 times the distance-in-feet to the farthest seat in the space. For signage/video industry standard, the place to start is with Font Size by Distance: Distance from screen multiplied by 2.5 gives you the font pt.


Seating With Movable Chairs:
For churches desiring flexibility. This is the least expensive seating option. Allow 22 – 24 inches width per person. Allow 24 inches from cap of front chair to seat of rear chair, or 36 – 40 inches from cap of front chair to cap of rear chair.


Seating With Foldable Fixed Theater Seats:
In lieu of pews, this will increase the real-seating of people by 15 – 20%. Reduces the amount of width allocated per person to 20 – 23 inches as well as allowing the theater seats to be spaced closer together than pews, by code, because the seats fold up. Row spacing should be a minimum 24 inches from cap of front seats to front of folded rear seats.


Seating With Pews:
Reality dictates 22 – 24 inches width per person. Spacing between rows of pews, from the cap rail of one pew to the cap rail of the next pew, is a preferred 40 – 42 inches. Pew length: 12 – 14 people per pew for ease of access. Center aisle – 6 feet.


Baptistry:
4X7 feet preferred minimum inside dimension. 3’ 6” minimum water depth.


Media/Production Room:
200 sf plus.


THIRD PLACE/FOYER/GATHERING AREA

50 – 75% of auditorium sf.


DISABLED ACCESSIBILITY (minimums)

  • 36 inch door width
  • 5 feet 6 inch hallway width to allow for two passing wheelchairs or two people utilizing crutches
  • Restroom to allow 5 foot turning radius for wheelchair
  • Slope of walks: Not more than 1 foot in 20 feet
  • Slope of ramps: Not more than 1 inch in 12 inches
  • Handrails at ramps; grab bars in toilet stalls
  • Wheelchair spaces in the worship center
  • Elevator may be required/desired


NURSERY AREA

  • 35 sf per infant.
  • Nursing mothers’ area: 50 sf.


CHILDREN’S SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSROOMS

  • 35 sf clear space per preschooler.
  • 25 – 30 sf per elementary age.


ELEMENTARY LARGE-GROUP

  • 15 sf per child.


WEEK-DAY CHILDCARE CLASSROOMS

  • 35 sf clear space per child.


WORK/RESOURCE ROOM

  • 200 sf.


PRE-TEEN/TEEN SPACES

  • Classrooms: 12 sf per student.
  • Worship/Activity room: 18 – 22 sf per student.


ADULT EDUCATION SPACES

  • Classrooms: 18 sf per person.
  • Multi-use classrooms: 20 sf per person.


SUPPORTING SPACES

  • Halls, restrooms, mechanical, storage, etc.: 11.5 sf per seat.


FELLOWSHIP HALL

  • 50% of the worship center seating capacity.
  • Allow 15 sf per person for adequate space for dining.


GYMNASIUM

  • Facility size: 7,000 sf – 10,000 sf.
  • High school court dimensions: 50X84.
  • Junior High court dimensions: 42X74.
  • Ceiling height: 25 ft minimum.


KITCHEN

  • Warming: 15% of dining area. (300-600 sf)
  • Full Commercial: 30% of dining area. (600-800 sf)


ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES/ROOMS

  • Lead Pastor: 200 – 300 sf.
  • Associate Pastors: 150 – 250 sf.
  • Administrative offices: 150 – 200 sf.
  • Receptionist: 250 sf
  • Cubicles: 70 sf per person.
  • Work Area/Resource: 150 – 400 sf.
  • Conference room: 18 – 20 sf per person. (200 – 400 sf)


RECREATION

  • Indoor Playscape: 60 sf per child. (600 sf)
  • Outdoor Playground: 75 sf per child.


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Utilizing Church Assets to Create Stability During Uncertain Times

There has been a cultural shift taking place in America for decades that has had a direct impact on churches, but the disruptions of the past year have accelerated those trends even further. From changing perceptions about faith and religion to declines in attendance and giving, ministries are being challenged like never before to adapt to new realities and develop new strategies for doing church.

As we begin 2021, there is still much uncertainty about how in-person church attendance and ministry funding will be impacted in the long term, and what the resulting affect will be on physical space needs in the future. Although there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution to this uncertainty, we believe that this unpredictable time calls for a paradigm shift in how churches view their land and buildings.

Church facilities have traditionally been among the most under-utilized facilities in America, sitting empty throughout most of the week. We believe there are incredible opportunities for ministries to leverage these assets to both generate sustainable income for the ministry and serve the needs of the local community, not just on Sundays but 7 days a week.

In recent years, the idea of merging for-profit business on church property has become a hallmark of BGW projects. In many cases, these “financially sustainable” models can not only reduce existing overhead costs, but can also become a true catalyst for ministry growth and community impact.


Evaluating the Assets of your Church

Across the globe, finances often dictate the pace at which a church’s vision can be carried out. Although hope and passion may abound, a prolonged lack of resources can result in great discouragement among ministries. But what if the key to moving forward is not totally dependent on the amount of money you have in the bank?

Perhaps the best place to start is by assessing the assets your church already has, then evaluating the untapped potential they have to generate sustainable income. What is your community lacking that could be accomplished in your facility or on your property? Begin to brainstorm ideas within your leadership for how the church’s assets could potentially meet a need within the community. Take an inventory of your buildings and land, including the types, quantity, and condition of rooms, parking spaces, etc. When are they being used and when are they empty? Are there opportunities to incorporate financially-sustainable models?


Two Key Areas to Consider

Excess Land
If your church owns additional unused land or adjacent property, it could be of special interest to a developer who specializes in multi-family housing, mixed-use retail, or even commercial office or shared work space. If your surrounding community is aging, perhaps a senior housing project would be appropriate. If you are located in an urban or commercial area, your parking lot may be of great value during the week. BGW works with national and local real estate developers that can help evaluate the potential of these kinds of opportunities and help bring the right business partners to the table.


Unused Spaces in Your Building
If you have spaces inside your facility that are only being used on Sundays, consider leasing or renting those spaces to outside groups. Consider adding a feature in this space that is needed or desired in your community, such as an indoor playground or a rock climbing wall. This could be rented out on Saturdays for children’s birthday parties, and would be an excellent way to introduce young families to your church. Opening your cafe during this time would allow parents to meet and share coffee while their children play.

A gym and a few classrooms could be utilized to host after-school care. If you have a commercial kitchen, it could be leased to a catering company who could use it six days a week. Your classrooms could be shared by a Christian school or you could partner with a for-profit child care company that could utilize the spaces throughout the week. Some renovations may be necessary to meet code requirements for these uses, but the potential revenue could make it a worthwhile investment.


Child Care Centers a Natural Fit for Many Churches

While there are a number of possibilities for non-profit models in churches, child care centers have proven to be the most natural fit for many ministries. As a result, BGW has partnered with leading secular and Christian child care providers to help ministries integrate early learning centers into their new building. These partners are involved in the BGW design process from the earliest stages, providing valuable input on space requirements as well as business feasibility. In addition, these child care experts provide professional management solutions that can help ensure the success of your new business.


Don’t Go It Alone

Even though this is an exciting process, it can also be overwhelming. In most cases, Building God’s Way recommends that the church not operate or manage the for-profit business on its own, but it should be prepared for the significantly increased ministry potential that these opportunities can bring.

Every church is different and it would be a mistake to believe there is a one-size-fits-all solution. As you discern how God is calling you to serve your congregation and community, we invite you to contact us. We have walked with many churches through each stage of this process and can assist you as you consider the exciting potential of financially sustainable ministries.


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