Steps in a Building Project
By Robert C. Foreman, Architect
A Guideline through the Building Process for Churches.
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1.
Identify property and building inadequacies.
a. List general inadequacies.
b. Review list of inadequacies with key program leaders.
2. Secure outside help.
a. Request help from denomination,
association or diocese.
b. Obtain published guidebooks for help in organizing and planning.
3. Secure church action to appoint a
Survey, Planning and Building Committee.
a. Report property and building
inadequacies to the church.
b. Ask for approval to structure a Survey, Planning and Building Committee to begin a study that
is directed at the church
taking actions to meet property and building needs.
4. Organize and educate committee
a. Appoint building project steering
committee (7 to 10 members).
b. Appoint three to five or more members on each subcommittee.
c. Educate committee on process using guidebooks or materials obtained from denomination.
5. Explore community needs to discover
church opportunities.
a. Survey community.
b. Determine specific needs of persons in the community.
c. Define church’s mission.
d. Determine number of persons who might be reached in each program.
e. Begin site selection process if property is not owned.
6. Select an Architect
a. Gather list of
architects
b. Interview, review experience, call references.
c. Select Architect.
7. Develop a comprehensive program
a. Define and prepare a written
statement of programs to be provided by the church.
b. Ascertain number of people for which space will be provided in each
church program.
c. Architect to participate in program development.
8. Site selection
a. Evaluate suitability
and location of existing property.
b. If moving or acquiring property for first unit, determine
where church needs to be located in the
community.
c. Determine amount of property needed. Minimum 5 acre
site. Allow 100 people per usable acre.
d. Architect should participate in site selection and
evaluation. Do not purchase the property until
it is certain that it
will be adequate for church needs.
9. Topographic / Boundary
Survey of Site
10. Architect authorized to
prepare Master Site Plan.
11. Prepare financial plan
a. Review past and present financial
performance.
b. Make initial contact with sources of help regarding a fund-raising campaign.
c. Project amount of money to be raised in an intensive fund-raising campaign.
d. Investigate sources for borrowing funds, and potential amounts available.
e. Secure tentative loan commitments.
f. Determine maximum funds which can be made available for a building project.
12. Complete the
property purchase, if not already owned.
13. Architect or
church to secure services of a civil engineer.
14. Architect
authorized to prepare Schematic Building Plans.
15. Church to begin
contractor selection.
16. Master Site Plan
to be submitted to local planning and zoning, if necessary.
17. Report to church and secure church
decision/begin fund raising
a. Report findings and recommendations
to church.
i. Program needs for
which space will be provided.
ii. Site
Master Plan and Schematic Building Design.
iii. Estimated
project cost.
iv. Means and source of financing
project.
v. Growth and other results
anticipated.
b. Secure church action on:
i. Type and amount of space
to be constructed.
ii. Acquisition of any properties
needed.
iii. Proceeding with
final drawings.
iv. Financing plan for the project.
v. Begin fund raising.
vi. Approval of
Contractor selection.
18. Architect and
engineers to proceed with design drawings for the building
and site.
a. Authorize architect to prepare floor
plans and cost estimates.
b. Present plans and cost estimates to church for approval.
c. Contractor to provide design and cost input.
19. Architect and
Engineers to proceed with final detailed Construction
Documents
a. Architect and
Engineers to incorporate church design input.
b. Contractor to provide design and cost input.
c. Report to church when plans are completed and approved by committee.
20. Submit plans to
various local and state authorities for review and approval.
a. Local City / County
Development Department and Building Department.
b. State Fire Marshal.
c. Architect to meet with local and state plan review personnel
to coordinate plan review
and approval process and satisfy plan review
comments.
21. Contractor to
prepare final pricing or job is put out for bids.
22. Architect to
obtain final approval of plans from local and state authorities.
23. Church to
finalize financing arrangements.
24. Church to
approve construction price - sign contract - provide notice to proceed to
general Contractor.
25. Contractor to
obtain building permit and begin construction. This time is 6 to 12
months for most
projects. Large
projects may take 18 months or more.
26. Begin organizational enlargement and
leadership training simultaneously
with beginning construction.
a. Enlist new workers for enlarged
organization.
b. Inaugurate an aggressive and intensive training program for present
and new workers.
c. Design a "saturation" visitation program to be implemented immediately prior to occupancy
of the new building.
27. Church to order
furniture and other equipment not included on General Contract (sound
system,
pews, kitchen equipment, operable walls, etc.).
28. Church to
anticipate completion date- schedule and plan for dedication service six to
ten weeks
after occupancy.
29. Construction
substantially complete. Begin to furnish and equip the
building.
Heating / cooling
system must be
operational. Inspect furniture and
test equipment.
30. Occupy
and begin using facility only after all work is complete, building has
been declared complete by
the architect and local authorities have granted
"certificate of occupancy."
31. One to two month "shakedown" period begins.
a. Defects are found and
corrected.
b. Adjustments are made to air conditioning, electrical
systems sound systems and "bugs"
worked
out.
c. Final payment made to contractor
32. Dedication Service - should never be planned for
the first Sunday of Occupancy. Allow
time for proper
planning, last minute work and final adjustments.
33. Evaluation at the one year anniversary of
completion to make a list of items that need
attention prior
to expiration of the one year
warranty period.
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