Arriving in a new place for the first time can be a challenge. You might not know where to go, what to expect, or even where to park. Guests at your church can feel the same way. If your church design is user-friendly, then you have a better chance of drawing guests and making them feel at home. The church design trend of making church buildings more user-friendly is something you should know about.
Improving Entryways to Your Church Building
Not every church building entrance is clearly marked. Expansion and remodeling can multiply doors and entryways, especially in older church properties, which can confuse newcomers. The best place to enter your church building can be misleading, if the main doors are not near the parking lot.
Since 2008 (when the economic downturn caused more churches to remodel rather than design a new church), many church leaders have asked us for assistance in improving their existing buildings’ entry options. We’ve added lobbies and grand entry areas that clearly draw the eye’s attention and, with inclement weather in mind, covered drop-off locations. These improvements to church architecture clarify the best entryway for guests when they arrive.
Incorporating Signs and Welcome Centers in Your Church Design
Once guests have found the best entrance to your church building, they will appreciate locating your church’s key features, such as restrooms, the nursery, and the worship center. We strongly suggest incorporating signs into every church design because they are one way that help guests find these areas in your church.
We have also featured welcome centers for remodeled lobbies and new church designs. These guest-service counters, like a hotel’s concierge desk, provide visitor information. Church members behind these counters can help guests with their needs and answer their questions.
Creating Transparency for Events
Transparency tells guests about your church’s events. We’ve seen many churches, especially older ones, where the church building is close to the front of the property and the parking is in back. In an older, downtown setting, people walked to church, rather than drive, and having your church building near the sidewalk was more important than parking lots. When church leaders opted for parking lots in the back, the church building became the focus.
Today’s church buildings can hide not only the parking lot but also an event that guests might want to join. If you drive by a church building and don’t see parked cars, you don’t know that anyone is inside on a Sunday morning or that you have the correct worship time. We’ve drafted several church design options that include visible parking to alleviate this issue.
Church design trends are constantly changing, and to keep up with the latest ways of how your church can be more user-friendly, sign up today for the next in our free i3 webinar series.