Church Design Concepts

GUIDELINES FOR DESIGNING A CHURCH

CEILING HEIGHT
Create the highest ceiling possible. High ceilings help create the feeling that the space is
important, which in turn helps instill reverence in the space. High ceilings are also required to
create the acoustics needed for music, praying in unison, and projection of the voice. Music
requires a high ceiling in order to sound full-bodied and powerful.
SYMMETRY
Use proportional spacing and balance to create a symmetrical worship environment. The
sanctuary, platform, altar area, pulpit, stage or other focal point of the worship space should be
centered to allow most members of the congregation an un-obstructed view. When placing
seating, it is important to use symmetrical design. If pews, theater seats, or movable chairs are
to be installed, several issues are important to consider prior to installing the seating. First,
seating in an auditorium space is governed by federal, state and local fire and life safety
codes. Prior to purchasing seating for your space, understand the requirements for your
area. Many states limit the length of pews or rows of theater seats in order to insure a quick exit
in case of an emergency.
Additionally, the minimum width of both center and side aisles is also regulated for the same
reason. Keep in mind when planning a seating layout, that if your sanctuary space will be used
for weddings or funerals, a center aisle that is five feet wide or wider will make walking down the
aisle more picture-perfect for the bride, and more dignified for the pall bearers with a casket.
COLOR SELECTION
Select colors that create interest and drama in the space. When choosing wall colors, select a
palette that is off-white, cream, or a very light tint. Walls painted dark colors, although dramatic,
absorb light and cause the worship space to appear dark. Dark spaces can prove to be a
difficult environment in which to read text or music.
FABRICS
Use fabrics, polished wood, lighting fixtures, artwork, and windows to create drama and give the
space the feeling of reverence. The right combination of fabrics, decorative artwork, and accent
painting can set the mood for the worship space. Prior to designing, visit as many churches and
other worship centers as possible to see what you like. Use rich fabrics to add warmth and color
to the room.
ARTWORK
Size artwork so it fits the space and creates impact. Artwork may be statues, tapestries,
sculptures, paintings, crosses, crucifixes, murals, mosaics, and decorative windows.

DECORATIVE WINDOWS
When selecting decorative windows commonly referred to as stained glass, there are several
issues to consider. Not all stained glass windows are the same in fact, most church windows
which the average church goers call stained glass arent stained glass at all. The term stained
glass refers to a specific style of decorative glass windows where the artist paints directly on the
glass prior to firing the window in a kiln to meld the paint and glass into one creation. Stained
glass windows are just one type of decorative church window. The other major classifications of
church windows include art glass, etched glass, and faceted glass windows.
WOODWORK
Used as a decorative element to trim walls, frame artwork or ceilings, wood is an excellent,
long-lasting material. Make sure it is installed by a skilled woodworker and stained and
varnished with top quality materials.
FURNISHINGS
Just like in a home, furnishings make the room. Select a style of furnishings that creates the
style and level of comfort and formality desired for the space. Pews come with many options,
from solid wood in a variety of stained colors to white colonial style ends with carved wooden
caps and fully upholstered seats and backs. Pews can be purchased to fit the architectural style
of the worship space, no matter whether the space is gothic, colonial, traditional or
contemporary. When selecting seating, whether pews, theater seats, or stackable chairs, meet
with several different manufacturers and compare styles, construction methods, and quality.
When considering pews and altar furnishings, keep in mind that the most visible part of the pew
is the seating surface. Whether you select an upholstered seat and back or solid wood select
a pattern or finish that will create the desired effect in your worship space. Remember, the
seating will be the single largest item in your worship space. Your seating selection will set the
tone for the entire space.
Although the largest single furniture investment is the seating used by the congregation, the
pulpit and other platform furnishings represent the focal point of the sanctuary. Since these
furnishings are what everyone in the church service is actually looking at, it is very important
that you select both the style and quality to set the tone for the entire sanctuary.
SOUND SYSTEMS
Although the majority of the sound system is not seen, it is a major component to nearly every
worship space. In many more contemporary spaces, it is not uncommon for sound systems to
cost tens of thousands to many millions of dollars. When selecting a sound system, meet with
several qualified sound consultants and have them design a system specifically for your worship
space. Buying components off the shelf and putting a sound system together might have
worked for that great stereo in college, but it just wont work in a house of worship. Do it right
the first time. Have a sound consultant experienced in systems for churches come to your
church and design the right sound system for your church.
PLANNING AND SPACE ALLOCATIONS FOR PROPER DESIGN
When building your church, the following are some general rules of thumb for proper planning.
When purchasing property, approximately one acre of usable land is required for each 120
people in attendance. This is sufficient to provide for the worship center, education building,

offices, landscaping, and parking. A Christian school, day care, recreation ministry, etc., will
require additional land.
For parking requirements, plan on one usable acre of paved, striped parking for every 300
people. A paved, striped parking area should be able to accommodate between 100-115 cars
per usable acre, and most building codes allocate one car per three people. Many local building
codes may require islands of planted vegetation within the parking lot, which reduces the
number of cars per acre. A usable acre is one that does not contain non-buildable ground, such
as wetlands, steep slopes, irregularly shaped property, ungradable hills, property that is not
accessible, and/or property which high tension power lines cross over and where cars are not
allowed to drive under these power lines .
SANCTUARY SEATING CAPACITY PER SQUARE FOOT PER PERSON
Number of People
Square Feet Per Person
Up to 300
15 -17
300-500
17-20
500 up
20+
PRAISE BAND / ORCHESTRA AREA
Allow 20 25 square feet per instrument.
VIDEO PROJECTION SCREEN(S)
Allow 12 times the distance to the farthest seat in the congregation.
CHOIR
10 - 12% percent of congregational seating
Choir platforms are generally constructed so that each platform is 3 4 which gives the choir
member room to stand in front of their seat. The choir area should have an acoustically
reflective floor not carpeting. Use hardwood, stone, vinyl, or other material.
CONGREGATIONAL SEATING
Pews Fire Code allocates 18 per person in a pew; however, reality dictates a more
conservative 21 to 24 per person. Spacing between rows of pews is 36 from the cap rail of
one pew to the cap rail of the next pew.
Pew length 14 or 15 people maximum per pew. This rule is based on how quickly a pew can
be evacuated in an emergency. Based on life safety codes, no more than 8 people from the
middle of a pew or 15 people total.
Center aisle 5 minimum; however, if you plan on holding weddings, funerals, and other
processions down the center aisle, a minimum of 6 is more realistic.
Theater Seats Theater seats are a very good option for those congregations who need to
maximize their seating area. Typically, installing theater seats over pews will increase the
seating capacity by 20%. Theater seats are a more efficient use of space by reducing the
amount of space allocated per person to 18 or 20 as well as by allowing the theater seats to
be spaced closer together than pews are by code.

Church Chairs - Fully upholstered chairs with either metal or wooden frames have been a
popular option for churches that require flexibility with their seating. Unlike pews and theater
seats, these chairs are not fixed to the ground which allows for flexibility in the chair layout
whenever needed. These chairs will be the least expensive seating option. When planning a
floor layout using church chairs, allow 24 inches width per person.
EDUCATION BUILDING
When designing a Sunday School classroom, calculate 25 square feet per child. If the
classroom is also to be used for a day school, increase to 35 square feet per child or as
required by local building code.
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES & OTHER ROOMS
Pastors Study 250 to 325 square feet
Administrative offices 150 to 225 square feet
Meeting rooms 15 to 25 square feet per person
Music Library 1 to 2 square feet per person
Choir rehearsal room -15 to 20 square feet per person
Orchestra rehearsal room - 25 square feet per person
Handbell rehearsal room 20 feet by 30 feet desirable
Robing rooms 4 to 6 square feet per person
FELLOWSHIP HALL
Fellowship Hall should be sized to accommodate one-half of the sanctuary seating capacity.
RECREATION
Playground 75 square feet per child

If you have any questions concerning this article or feel you need additional assistance with your building
plans, please contact us to schedule a free consultation meeting. We would enjoy meeting with you to
answer your questions and to share the ways we can help your committee in order to make your building
program a success.