Advice from an architect:
PLAN FOR THE
FUTURE
It’s common for building construction to take two years, from the
initial planning phase to project completion.
You don’t want to find yourself in the all-too-common situation of
having outgrown your facility before it is finished construction.
A few pieces of advice:
There’s no such thing as “too much storage”
Storage is needed in classrooms for teachers to have easy access.
Lockable storage is needed for personal belonging and cleaning supplies
that should stay out of children’s reach.
Car seat storage should be located near the entry and check-in areas.
You get the idea.
Scale everything for children
To encourage independence and acceptance, everything within the
youth wing should be scaled to a child’s size.
At the check-in area, a portion of the counter should be low enough that
a child can see over it to the adult greeting them.
In the corridors, include creative room signage at child height.
Within the classroom, tables, chairs, window sills, sinks and restroom
equipment should be child-sized.
Create a consistent church brand
Your church has a brand, whether you’re being strategic about it or
not. Your “brand” is what you represent and how you’re connecting to
your community.
So, be consistent throughout the youth spaces, and include them in
your overall brand. Having a minimalistic church with a Disney-like
youth area will send a mixed message, and vice versa.
Rebecca Calbert, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB is
the Owner and Principal Architect at Calbert
Design Group, LLC in Kennesaw, Ga. [ www.
calbertdesign.com ] With 30 years of professional
experience, Calbert has worked with various
award-winning architectural firms in the Metro
Atlanta area.
churchexecutive.com
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