Rio Revolution Church, Maryville, Tenn., image courtesy of Studio Four Design, Knoxville, Tenn.
Church.Design asked church-focused architects around the country what elements are defining the church spaces they're designing in 2018. Ten key design markers emerged.
1-Branding, much more than a logo. Today’s churches strive to be excellent communicators of their identities, vision and values. “To attract the next generation of churchgoers, churches are marketing themselves by creating their own brand,” says Stacy Cox, AIA, president of Studio Four Design in Knoxville, Tenn. Savvy church leaders want their worship centers to become the familiar faces of their communities. Churches need to tell the story by defining their purpose, their unique role in the community, and what they ultimately stand for.
2-Taking cues from the retail and hospitality industries. The church community is striving to reach every demographic, including kids and teens, Millennials, young families, adults and seniors. “I took some inspiration from the retail marketplace to understand the importance of creating a multi-purpose identity for our church spaces,” Cox reports. “Churches are featuring transitional designs that reach out to all elements of the community, from local businesses to people needing to connect.”
Rio Revolution Church lobby, Maryville, Tenn., image courtesy of Studio Four Design, Knoxville, Tenn.
3-Welcome home vibe. While hospitality is key to attracting parishioners of all ages, a relaxing, come-and-sit-down environment that’s home-like is part of that mix. Notes Mark Underwood, a principal at Hitchcock Design Group, a planning and landscape architecture firm in Naperville, Ill., “Today’s church spaces extend from the indoors out. Roof decks can overlook an urban space and offer amenities such as sectional sofas and fireplaces. The ability to nurture an indoor environment with an outdoor feel promotes a push towards interior plantings, neutral shades and authentic materials featuring wood, stone and metal.”
4-Reinventing church identity. Churches are focused on creativity enabling them to stand out by establishing their own color scheme, logo and even fonts to promote their identity. “Most churches we are currently designing first want to communicate who they are as a church, from their culture to ministry focus and their core values,” says Aubrey Garrison III, AIA, founding principal of Live Design Group. “[They] have a very visible overall message that includes branded colors coordinated with all social media and community connection points.”
Life Church, Memphis, Tenn., image courtesy of Live Design Group, Birmingham, Ala.
Trending now is the embrace of mixed-use developments, as churches replace large auditoriums with multisite facilities. Architects and designers are now working with churches that function as an anchor tenant with the ability to lease their properties to help defray expenses and pay the rent. The mixed-used campus is shared with the community and hosts retail, residences, hotels, dining and office spaces. The multisite strategy is a growth model that franchises each campus with its own pastor, but takes its branding message from a central staff.
5-Prayer … and more. Churches are also refocusing on being a gathering place more open to the community, rather than just a space for communal prayer on evenings and weekends, says Sviatoslav Makarenko with Ecclesiastical Art & Design, a woman-owned, Yonkers, N.Y.-based studio with over 50 years of experience in liturgical art and design. “Architectural elements encourage parishioners and visitors to gather and mingle after services, thriving in building campus-like communities rather than a single church building.”
6-A space for everyone. The church space is reflected by activities targeting specific audiences. Designers see more interest in transforming the commons area into an everyday gathering place. “Cafes with various seating options are becoming meeting places for small groups and attracting entrepreneurs looking for a cool hangout space with WiFi connection,” says Garrison. “Seating options vary from soft comfortable sofas and chairs to café tables with stools. Children’s play areas can be important for women’s small group meetings and making the commons more active on Sunday.”
Life Church, Memphis, Tenn., courtesy of Live Design Group, Birmingham, Ala.
Garrison adds, “Colors tend to be more neutrals, with the branded colors, wayfinding and mission graphics being the focal points.”
7-Focus on families. Space dedicated to children’s areas have increased dramatically for both new and remodeled churches, sending the message that their church is family-driven, offering a safe and secure environment for kids to play. Recreationally, most suburban and exurban communities have plenty of family-friendly venues for meeting and socializing, reports Randy Seitz, AIA and president of Blue Ridge Architects in Harrisonburg, Va. So unless a church is intentional about ministries and programs throughout the week, the fast pace of modern America means people are hanging out at venues other than the church.
Life Church, Memphis, Tenn., image courtesy of Live Design Group, Birmingham, Ala.
8-Sacred and secular intersection. “We are now working with churches built 8-10 years ago with large flat floors and movable chairs that would like to update their image to match an advancement in their culture,” Garrison reports. “Many would like to add stadium seating which adds more intimacy [to] the worship space and provides better sightlines. It also seems to add a new level of energy in the room.”
Overall, the church as a communal focal point and gathering space carries into the interior design itself. “Many churches concentrate on craftmanship and authenticity of material as well as carrying out cohesive design and restoration plans that address not only the artwork, but also the AVL of the space,” says Makarenko. “In many ways it is returning to its ‘original’ purpose of engaging people simultaneously with unique beauty and modern functionality.”
St. Gabriel's, image courtesy of Ecclesiastical Art & Design, Yonkers, N.Y.
9-Technology + tradition. While worship is certainly the focus of contemporary and traditional churches, the common spaces establish the culture of the church. This approach is supported with more technology in all forms, including video walls, LED walls, LED lighting, WiFi, and more. Multi-functional spaces have created the need for churches to operate seven days a week, with social media an important part of the mix.
Video walls are now the thing to be coveted in medium-sized and larger churches, may report. Video walls are modular and can be created in any size. One module is 18 inches to 24 inches square,” notes Dennis Batty, principal of Dennis Batty & Associates Group Architects and Planners in Forest Lake, Minn.
“In AVL, technological advances provide exponential new possibilities in church interiors including ‘true to daylight’ enhancement of colors and images ranging from bright light that commands attention to a soft focus that reflects and warms like candlelight,” notes Makarenko.
“AVL people are learning that sound systems can be driven harder if the space is made softer with significant amounts of sound absorbing materials used on walls and ceilings,” adds Batty. “Lighting is almost all LED now. This benefits the designer since it allows greater flexibility and control. Wattage is much lower so it is more economical to operate. DMX controls allow for individual control of light fixtures. House lighting can be designed using fixtures that offer a wide range of color. We are finally trending away from all flat black ceilings and designing more creative color schemes.”
Life Church, Memphis, Tenn., image courtesy of Live Design Group, Birmingham, Ala.
Seitz reports, “There is also a trend for cleaner [worship] platforms. Churches still want a wider center screen for projecting images and words during worship, with right and left screens for tight shots on the person leading worship.”
10-First impression is key. Not surprisingly, lobbies have for some time been on the rise as a destination space in a church, instead of an entryway or a place to hang coats. In some cases, foyers are wrapped with vibrant signage in large glass walls creating the experience of a conference center rather than a traditional church. With worship halls, children’s ministry and cafes in church foyers, lobbies are a place to meet and greet. And Seitz notes, “No amount of architecture or interior design can match the impact of squad-friendly volunteer greeters.”
