A growing group of members often drives the decision for a church to expand its facilities or build new ones. While this can be an exciting decision, there are several items to consider to help construct new facilities right the first time.
Choosing Your Land
Whether it is a church, school, health care facility or camp, the first step is procuring land on which to build a new facility. This decision should consider the size of your congregation, plans for expansion, and long range plans for your institution. Consider all aspects of land—profile, topography, location, type of soil, and neighborhood—before purchasing a property.Land profile and topography can play a very expensive part in grading the land to the required needs. You might spend a significant portion of your budget trying to fix the property. For example, one church building project spent 30 percent of the estimated cost on grading the land to meet requirements for the different floor levels of the building. As such, it is better to locate property as per the requirement for the project.
Soil test results will provide enough data to ensure the ground will be suitable for the purpose it is intended. Perform a soil test before purchasing the land to get a better insight of the previous usage, such as a dump yard for toxic wastes.
Additionally, be mindful of the surrounding areas of your chosen location. Research information such as the crime rates in previous years to ensure your members will be safe.
Choosing Your Architect
When selecting an architect, look for a qualified company with experience in designing such facilities. Does the person demonstrate knowledge about the local codes and government regulations for this type of occupancy? Interview several companies before selecting the one which would best meet the needs of your institution’s plans. Additionally, check that your chosen architect has proper training and qualifications to perform these tasks.Before your builder begins construction, make sure you have the right insurance coverage in case of any incidents. General Conference Working Policy 2015-2016 states:
[Page 493] S 60 05 Insurance of Denominational Assets—In order to maximize protection for all church operations against risk accidents, property, and liability losses, the following operating policies shall be followed:
- Property Protection—The treasurers/chief financial officers and managers of denominational organizations, in cooperation with Adventist Risk Management, Incorporated, shall initiate measures to prevent losses and/or minimize the loss in the event of an occurrence, and shall be responsible for maintaining adequate insurance coverage of assets. Losses and accidents, including work-related injuries and illnesses, shall be reported on a timely basis in harmony with denominational operating policies.
Time to Build Right!
Have the chosen property surveyed by a competent authority, boundaries established and marked with survey stones, dimensions and area verified with the documented area as per the deed of sale.When appropriate, construct a compound wall or a fence on the boundary line of the property. This demarcation will help you avoid any encroachment. Tall trees planted on the periphery of the land can act as a windbreaker and may keep wind losses to a minimum.
Building codes are standards used in the construction industry. While some may feel that following these regulations is time-consuming and costly, consider the confusion that would ensue if there were no codes. Just as the Lord gave us the Ten Commandments for operating our world in the smoothest way possible, building codes provide a way to build right and build safely. Codes prescribe the sizes of doors, windows, stairways, corridors and egresses. Following the correct codes is the key to a smooth functioning of our operations and considers those with disabilities.
Codes may vary to a small extent from place to place, but they are to be observed according to the local requirements. International Building Codes (IBC) and the National Fire and Protection Agency (NFPA) are two primary sources of stipulating codes for buildings as well as fire safety. IBC codes dictate the correct sizes for different occupancies, and the NFPA provides codes for the fire safety of the facility. Following these regulations makes the facility safe and meets the prescribed standards.
There is always a feeling that following codes and using the right kind of professionals would be costly. Many church institutions will try to cut corners and prefer to undertake some of these tasks by themselves. But these decisions can cause severe losses to the church and result in liability issues. In turn, these “cost-cutting” measures make it more expensive than doing it RIGHT the first time. Let’s commit always to build right.
