A significant amount of the church design and church building work that The McKnight Group takes on today involves remodeling existing spaces. We posted previously about the remodeling trend for existing church buildings, but not every remodel we do started as a church. In fact, some of our most creative and effective church designs have come from transforming spaces that were originally designed for entirely different purposes.
What Types of Buildings Become Churches?
Over the past twenty plus years, we’ve seen a continual increase in the remodeling of alternative building types into churches. These include:
- Big box retail stores (such as a former Walmart or Best Buy)
- Warehouses
- Movie theaters
- Office buildings
- Car Dealerships
- School Buildings
The economic downturn of 2008 played a major role in driving this trend, and its impact continues to be felt. Additionally, the rapid growth of online shopping has left many once-thriving retail spaces sitting empty. For churches, this availability presents a unique opportunity: large, often well-located buildings that can be remodeled into effective ministry spaces.
Matching Mission Matters
Converting an existing building into a church isn’t as easy as just unlocking the doors and calling the open space a sanctuary. The design must align with the church’s vision for ministry. Not every church will find a converted building to be suitable. It’s important to evaluate whether the building’s look, layout, and location support your church’s mission and the people you want to reach.
The Economic Advantages of Remodeling
One of the most compelling reasons churches choose to remodel an existing building is cost. Acquiring an empty retail space or warehouse can often be done for half, or even one-quarter, the cost of new construction.
In some cases, churches can purchase a property at such a low price that, even after investing in significant remodeling, the total expense is still far below what it would cost to build new. This financial efficiency often leaves room in the budget to enhance ministries, expand community services, or invest in outreach efforts.
Additionally, many of these properties already come with benefits that new construction doesn’t provide, such as large existing parking lots and utility connections. Those infrastructure elements alone can save substantial amounts of money and time.
The Challenges of Remodeling
While the benefits are significant, remodeling does present its challenges. Some of the most common challenges include:
- Structural Work: Older or specialized buildings may require reinforcement or reconfiguration.
- HVAC: Moving from retail or warehouse use to an assembly space means planning for much larger crowds. This requires substantially more heating and cooling capacity, which can be costly.
- Plumbing and Electrical: Additional restrooms, lighting, and power requirements must often be added.
- Parking Adjustments: Although large retail spaces usually include extensive parking, configurations may need to be modified to handle church traffic patterns.
Even with these expenses factored in, remodeling usually remains far more affordable than constructing a brand-new facility on undeveloped land.
If you’re exploring options for your next church building project, we encourage you to attend our free i3 webinars. These sessions cover practical church design topics, provide valuable insights, and even give you the opportunity to ask questions. You can find upcoming dates and register on our website.