Included below are a number of questions churches have asked in the past concerning their projects and what to expect during the project. These brief answers can serve as a starting point for further discussions.
Why would we need an architect who specializes in churches?
First, since I specialize in the architecture of churches and their related ministries, I understand those things that make serving churches a special work, and I take the time to understand your ministry and how your new facilities can support your work. Second, one person, one with a real stake in the outcome, will be working with you from the beginning of the project until it is completed to your satisfaction. The work will not be handed off to another staff member. Third, I offer a high level of experience and professionalism, coupled with a passion for God’s Church and her architecture. I consider the design of church facilities to the glory of God to be a sacred task, and with this task comes a deep sense of responsibility, and I will take the time to approach your project with an intensity and dedication that I believe others cannot match.
We don’t even know where to begin or whether we should build or not. Can you help us decide?
If you’re still in this stage of uncertainty, but want to start a conversation, I can help. I will attend services, and meet with church leaders to understand your mission, projected growth, programs, and activities. I will review existing drawings and visit the project site (often doing design work right on-site). I also have preliminary meetings with building and planning officials to reduce the likelihood of unexpected issues.
How much can we expect to pay for your services?
Fees are determined by the scope of work (time required), consultants’ costs, and project expenses. If the scope of the architectural work has not been determined in detail at the beginning of the project, work can progress on an hourly basis until a final scope is established. After design, fees are normally based on a percentage of the first project cost estimate, paid over time as the project progresses. By keeping fees separate from the final building cost, we have no financial ties to construction, allowing Barry Wilson Architecture to be your independent agent with the contractor and represent your interests alone.
What is included in your basic fee?
Work generally includes all architectural, structural, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical documents necessary for permitting and construction. Unless the church specifically requests a particular presentation format, I provide color drawings and study models when I feel they are necessary to express the ideas we are discussing as a part of basic services. I can also provide drawings and models for fundraising.
We want to be good stewards. How do we keep project costs down?
We can start by discussing and prioritizing the long-term needs and goals of the ministry and developing a plan of how this will be achieved over time. Part of this plan will include the physical facilities. We could look at how the work may be divided up into affordable and functional phases in terms of the ministries continued operation during construction and the construction itself. From that point we would establish a realistic budget and expectation for the phase we wished to build and monitor our progress as we carried out the work.
I will also work with the church to establish an overall budget. From this budget we can determine what elements are most important to the church and how the money is to be best spent. The balance between economy and quality will be judged on an individual basis for the specific element and will need to be discussed in detail. As an example, a classroom for young adults might have a lower quality of finish than the toddler nursery, but should we reduce the quality of finish in the toddler area in order to gain more capacity or square footage?
On smaller projects, I work with local contractors during the preliminary stages to gather costing information. On larger projects, I utilize an outside consulting firm that specializes in cost estimating to prepare estimates. I meet with the estimators to discuss the project in detail and consider their advice on how to meet project goals in the most cost-effective way.
Should we consider a design/build arrangement?
The church, architect, and contractor work as a team with the final goal of providing facilities that meet the needs of your congregation and support your ministry. Clear communication between the parties is paramount, since the different parties sometimes have different priorities. In a design/build arrangement, the architect’s first commitment is to the contractor. I, however, as the independent architect, will work as your agent with the contractor, representing your interests alone to ensure what is built is what you want.
How do we go about selecting a contractor?
There are three primary ways to work with a traditional general contractor. The plans can be put out for all contractors who are interested to provide bids, the bid list can be limited to a few pre-selected contractors, or a contractor can be selected at the beginning of the design process and worked with throughout the project. There are other options for construction methods. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, I also know and can recommend contractors who will work well with your ministry.
Are you around during construction to help with any changes?
Absolutely. Barry Wilson Architecture acts as the church’s agent, working to assure that the ideals we had at the start of the design process are being carried out in the final construction.
In addition to normal visits, I will visit the jobsite when requested by the church or the contractor and to verify pay requests. I will work with the contractor’s and building department’s schedules to establish a timeline that will keep the church informed as to the quality of the work being provided.
How long can we expect a project to take?
There are a lot of factors that influence a project timeline. However, financing, more than any other factor, tends to dictate the overall project time schedule. And church financing is generally dependent upon the willingness of the congregation to understand and support a project.