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NEWSLETTER
Fall 2002 Issue No. 15

CHURCH
BUILDING
NOTES

"A newsletter on designing and maintaining your church"

WARREN WOODS NAZARENE ADDS FELLOWSHIP HALL

Hull-Stephens and Associates Architects has recently completed design on a "state of the art" fellowship hall for Warren Woods Church of the Nazarene in Warren, Michigan. It features a very impressive entrance with three crosses in a landscaped planter as a focal point. An attractive colonial style entrance complements the new and the existing facilities, with oversized doors, an arched transom, brick columns, and brick quoin work. The fellowship hall is enhanced with beautiful wood trimmed cove lighting, matching wood doors, and wood frame windows. A commercial sized kitchen and elevator are both located along the main corridor. A laundry room, convenient delivery dock , and eight classrooms complement the addition. This "state of the art" fellowship hall is designed to serve the church in various ministries. The sliding acoustical panels divide the hall into two large conference/classrooms, with each having a motorized projection screen. Theatrical productions are possible with the portable stage, drama lighting, and sound system. In a banquet setting, the hall will seat 490 people at rectangular tables or 344 people at round tables. The parking lot was expanded to replace parking spaces taken for the addition. A storm drainage system and detention pond were developed to handle storm water runoff. The contractor, Cliff Shaum, is a member of the congregation. He and his crew are to be commended for their outstanding performance on the construction work. This makes the eighth project Warren Woods Church of the Nazarene has commissioned Hull-Stephens and Associates Architects to design for them. Building Committee Chairman, Norman Rucker, said, "Your firm has been sensitive to our needs and wishes, and you have also been willing to explore alternatives to our many requests. Our congregation is excited about the soon to be completed Fellowship Hall. Those who have visited have said, 'Beautiful!' 'Very nice.' 'We can't wait.' " We thank God for clients like these, to whom we have earned their confidence. UCBN

MARK BALDRIDGE RECEIVES ARCHITECTURAL REGISTRATION

The classes are over, the internship is complete, and the exams are passed. Mark Baldridge, who has been with our firm since 1994 has just completed all the requirements and is now a registered architect. He recently received his state of Michigan license and a certificate with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Mark is an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Lapeer. He is currently an usher, greeter, member of the church bowling league and softball team, and former Board of Trustee member. He and his wife, Jody are proud parents of a little girl, McKenzie. They reside in Davison. Congratulations Mark!

DRAFTING AN ARCHITECT FINDING ONE TO MEET YOUR SPECS

How can a congregation with little or no experience in a building program reduce their exposure to mistakes? How can they maximize their potential for a successful building project? Solution: Finding the right architect and a strong building committee with varied experience is the key.

Why Hire an Architect?

Some people feel architects just draw pretty pictures of buildings, but that is a minor part of their work. Indeed they are generally sensitive to artistic concepts, but they also have much more to offer, such as:
P Technical Skills. Architects are trained planners in site and building design. They know building code requirements. They have access to specialized technical expertise, such as structural, mechanical, and electrical systems, and acoustics as well as cost estimating.

"An architect, in a sense, is the symphony conductor, pulling together the proper players to perform the concert of building a church."

P Problem-solving Abilities. No building project goes exactly as planned, but an architect who understands both church function and building construction can help make the process as trouble free as possible. Architects are trained problem solvers, and they bring a wide variety of solutions to common building problems.
P Consulting Skills. Architects also provide specialized services that the church may find of value. For example, the church may be undecided about remodeling or relocating. It may be unsure of community population trends. Or the church may simply want to know if a particular parcel of land is adequate for their needs. Many architects are qualified to perform these types of feasibility studies.
P Certification Authority. Every state has legislation that requires the use of an architect licensed in that state for buildings of any significance. Since most church remodeling projects fall into this category, a church must work with an architect at some stage in a building project.

Where Do We Find One?

P Check with your denominational offices. Often they maintain lists of architects who have worked successfully for their churches.
P Talk with other churches that have used an architect on a recent project.
P Check advertisements in Christian magazines and in the yellow pages. P There may be a good architect in your congregation, or someone in your congregation may know one. Just be cautious about hiring a member. Project difficulties can cause personality conflicts, and you may end up losing a valuable parishioner.

What Do We Look For?

You'll want to ask three to four firms to make a formal presentation to your building committee. This usually involves an introductory presentation followed by discussion and questions. Allow one to two hours per candidate. Some things to consider:
P Be certain the architect is registered in your state to perform architectural services. Registration is necessary to properly certify your plans to obtain a building permit.
P Look for two types of experience. Experience as an architect in general. Experience in designing churches. Church design is unique.
P Look for empathy and communication skills. Your architect must be willing to listen and understand your needs, even if you don't fully understand them yourself! A good architect listens attentively and responds to you thoughtfully and sincerely. Ask the architect to describe specifically how they would handle your project. If they cannot do this clearly, they may have difficulty in communicating other more important information.
P Check out the architectural firm. Questions to consider:
*Does it seem to be adequately staffed?
*Is it large enough to handle your project?
*Is the workload such that the firm can properly schedule your project?
*What internal systems ensure that information on a specific project flows properly within the firm? It is most frustrating to find that some decisions don't get passed on to those in the firm who need to know.
*Who will be your representative from the firm? You need to feel comfortable with this individual. It is important to determine if he or she will be your contact throughout the project or just for certain phases.
P Visit completed projects that are similar to yours. Better yet, attend a service there so you can:
*Observe the traffic flow.
*Determine if the acoustics are adequate.
*Ascertain if the quality of materials is appropriate.
*Ask people from the church how the building functions and how the architect handled construction problems. Because of the many people involved in a building project, a specific problem with a building may not be the architect's fault. Try to get the full story behind any deficiencies you may notice before passing final judgment.

"Does the design reflect the mission and lifestyle of the church rather than serve as a monument to the architect's imagination?"

What Can We Expect?

Here's what you should get for your money:
P A building design that responds to the needs of your church.
P Quality presentation materials that clearly illustrate the design in the form of: Site plans, Floor plans, and Exterior elevations.
P An estimate of the construction cost to be accurate within 10 percent. P Detailed working drawings and material specifications needed for contractors' bids, building permits, and construction.
P All bid forms and other materials, and consultation services during the bidding process.
P Regular inspections of the construction. (At least monthly, sometimes more often depending on the size of the project.) The architect will make certain the project is being constructed properly and the contractor's pay requests are in order. Construction projects are a continual exercise in confronting problems. Since your architect is a trained problem solver, expect him or her to exercise these skills in a fair and constructive manner. An architect treated with respect and encouragement often will go the extra mile for you.

What Not To Expect:

P Perfection. Since a building project is complicated, it is impossible to anticipate every eventuality, no matter how experienced he or she is. Allow your architect to be human.
P "Free sketches" from candidate. A well thought out design solution requires much time to develop, and that's too much to expect to be furnished at no cost.

What Will It Cost?

Expect a fee structure ranging from a low of 5.9 percent of the construction cost for large projects to a high of 10 percent on smaller ones. The selection of your architect is far too important to let the fee be the main determining factor. Select a qualified architect as you would a physician.

"Good architects can save you their fee throughout the course of a project."

How Do We Finalize The Deal?

The architect you select will prepare an agreement form. Depending on the size of the project, it could be a simple letter, a proposal, or a long legal document. On projects of any substance, you should use the "Standard Agreement Between Owner And Architect" as published by the American Institute of Architects (AIA form B141). It carefully delineates the responsibilities of the architect, the owner, and the contractor. Or have your attorney review the terms of the document to ensure you understand all of its implications. . UCBN

This revised article was written by Hull-Stephens and Associates Architects, and published in Your Church magazine.

ON THE BOARDS - Sept. 2002 Ascension Lutheran Church
Saginaw, MI
Christ The King Church
Oxford, MI
Community Church of God
Clio, MI
Emmanuel Baptist Church
Flint, MI
First Baptist Church
Owosso, MI
First United Methodist Church
Swartz Creek, MI
Grace Lutheran Church
Fairgrove, MI
Hope Lutheran Church
Adrian, MI
North Flushing Baptist
Flushing, MI
Oakland Chinese Church
Rochester Hills, MI
Olivet Congregational Church
Olivet, MI
Westshore Chirstian Church
Holland, MI

ASK THE ARCHITECT?

Q. How do you become a registered architect?

A. A person who desires to become a registered architect in the state of Michigan must fulfill requirements set forth by the State Licensing Board. This process takes about 9-10 years to complete. First a Professional Degree in Architecture is required. (typically a 5-year program). Then an internship of about three years follows. After completion of the educational and internship requirements, application can be made to the Architectural Registration Board for approval to take the exam. This exam is made up of nine separate sections: Site Planning, Building Planning, Building Technology, Pre-Design, Material and Methods, General Structures, Lateral Forces, Mechanical and Electrical Systems, and Construction Documents and Services. It may be taken throughout the week year round. Successful completion of this exam varies but may take up to a year or more to complete. Once completed successfully, the State Licensing Board will issue the registration license.

Please contact our office if you have a question you would like to see addressed in a future article.