In 2016, the design team at Archimania in Memphis, Tennessee, transformed a mid-century office building into Redeemer Presbyterian Church. Image: Archimania.
Adaptive reuse models have been a popular alternative for churches for more than 20 years, with architects taking a building designed for one function, and turning it into a worship facility instead.
Architect Duo Dickinson of Madison, Connecticut, notes there is an awareness now more than ever that every building is a pile of carbon and if they are not being used, it’s bad for the environment, so it makes more sense to modify the buildings for a better carbon footprint.
“The locations of these buildings that are no longer necessary are usually extraordinary and the buildings themselves often offer large, clear spans of spaces and parking lots,” Dickinson says. “There’s been a perfect storm of these really nice buildings not being used.”
Movie theaters, hardware stores, roller rinks, and industrial properties have all been transformed into churches over the years.
Craig Krawczyk, president of Birmingham, Alabama-based architecture firm, Live Design Group notes almost everything his firm is working on for churches these days has an adaptive reuse component.
“It’s just where a lot of churches are looking to grow and get in buildings with less time involved in design and construction, plus it’s more economical, so we’re seeing a lot of it happening,” he says.
Tom Greenwood, principal of Beck Architecture LLC in Dallas, shares one of the most important reasons a church may choose to go with an adaptive reuse project is that it offers lower overall project costs.
“In a sense, adaptive reuse is recycling buildings and investing in existing communities.”
>Tom Greenwood, Principal, Beck Architecture LLC, Dallas, TX
“Depending on the degree of renovation that must be done to convert another building type into a church facility, costs can sometimes be significantly less than a new, ground-up facility,” he says.
Speed to market is another consideration. Most adaptive reuse projects can save considerably on schedule for a church, allowing a church to more quickly occupy and provide ministry in the desired location.
A third reason for a church to go the adaptive reuse route, Greenwood notes, is the high degree of visibility to the target community it offers.
“Because adaptive reuse projects are often in buildings that were previous commercial development, they often have highly visible locations with good access,” he says. “For churches who are intentional in their mission to identify and reach the community, often these buildings may be familiar already to that community in a previous life a as commercial facility. This familiarity can make attending church less intimidating.”
Pandemic ponderings
While the pandemic had many churches reconsidering their renovation plans and worrying about money, adaptive reuse projects seemed like a savvy alternative for building out in a cheaper way.
The building materials shortages and delays only added to that desire, for some.
Still, Greenwood doesn’t feel the pandemic had too much of a significant impact on churches thinking of the adaptive reuse model, and that many of those who went in that direction were considering it before 2020.
“The availability of some commercial facilities may have increased slightly because of the economic impacts of the pandemic, but we have not found churches significantly more interested in the model over the past few years,” he says. “Most churches have just been focused on survival and re-imagining their ministry strategies in a more digital time.”
Krawczyk worked with several churches during the pandemic that were essentially kicked out of the facilities they were in—those renting space in schools or smaller spaces—and many needed a place quickly.
“A lot of them looked to existing buildings that they could quickly flip and turn into something they could use,” he says. “Any big open space with available parking was popular.”
Laying the groundwork
Not only does a worship facility get numerous advantages by going with an adaptive reuse model, but it also creates some pluses for designers and architects, as well. That’s why many oftentimes try to persuade their church clients to go in this direction.
“I do think there is a desire for architects to promote healthy communities and more sustainable practices which benefit churches, people, and the environment,” Greenwood says. “In a sense, adaptive reuse is recycling buildings and investing in existing communities.”
Krawczyk feels it’s just a natural solution, especially with so many grocery stores and bigger facilities sitting empty currently.
“The column locations in some of these spaces don’t really help the sanctuary pieces of the churches, so some modifications will typically have to be done, but for the most part, this is big, open, usable space with parking, so it’s a natural fit,” he says.
Worship spaces that are being renovated can be used for other reuse functions as well. For instance, Dickinson is currently working with a church in New Haven, Conn., renovating its worship hall and creating some space for a food pantry as an adaptive reuse component.
Multi-site location
With more and more churches expanding to multiple locations, adaptive reuse scenarios make perfect sense, and these types of buildings are often very attractive for churches using a multi-site strategy.
“Adaptive reuse of facilities can sometimes allow for rapid multiplication over a region, due to visible locations, speed to market, and relatively low cost for renovations,” Greenwood says.
Over the years, Beck Architecture has done multiple projects for Gateway Church in Dallas using this method.
Krawczyk notes churches are trying to get more efficient and lean with how they are using their buildings, so they are designing space that can be used for meetings during the week, a community outreach center, youth classes, and more. This is somewhat easier to design in an adaptive reuse project.
Plus, with more buildings becoming vacant, a church taking up a former home of another business is good for the community at large.
“Churches coming in and revitalizing the holes are reenergizing parts of towns that would otherwise not have use for the spaces, and it doesn’t look like retail is coming back,” Krawczyk says. “To be converted into a church facility is great for everyone.”
Dickinson notes it’s very clear that there was overbuilding in the 20th century, so reuse in the 21st century is going to continue to be a big trend because the culture almost mandates it.
