Sometimes church leaders look around their current church building and ask a hard question: is it time to remodel, or is it time to rebuild? It’s a question we hear every so often, and there is no easy or simple answer. Every church’s property and budget are different, and the right path for one congregation may be entirely wrong for another. Over the next several posts, we will look at some case studies of how leaders arrived at a church design that works for their ministry. But before we dig into specifics, let’s cover some initial considerations that every church leader should think through first.
Our Mission
It’s something we have shared before, but it’s always worth reviewing. Our mission at the McKnight Group is enabling ministries with buildings that work. To us, a church building is a tool, and that tool exists to support your ministries. To us, “ministry” means touching people’s lives for Christ. So, when we partner with a church on a remodel, a new build, or anything in between, our goal is the same. We want to provide a building that helps your church achieve its vision for ministry.
How Much Time Do You Have?
Time is often the first factor that churches run into: buying land, relocating a congregation, constructing a new building, and moving in can take a long time from start to finish. Remodeling an existing space may move faster, but not always. How much time your church has, and how much time you are willing to invest, shapes which direction makes sense.
What Can You Afford?
Cost is closely tied to time, and it deserves its own honest look. What does a remodel cost compared to building a new structure? More importantly, what can your church actually afford? A church design that stretches a budget too thin can create financial strain long after the ribbon cutting.
What Is Your Building Telling You?
The condition of your current facility matters. Ask why you might consider moving away from your existing space. Is it ongoing maintenance and upkeep? Is the building simply too small? Sometimes the issue is not size at all, but function.
Are Code Issues Pushing Your Hand?
Building and zoning codes come into play often, and they can force a decision all on their own. When you remodel a facility that no longer meets current code requirements, you may need more than a simple update, and that reality should factor heavily into the remodel-versus-rebuild conversation.
Is Growth Outpacing Your Space?
Finally, consider how quickly your church is growing. Will you outgrow your current space soon, or do you already have enough square footage, just not in a form that works for your ministry? Growth trends should inform your church building plans well before space runs out.
When Building Isn’t the Only Answer
Construction can be expensive, whether it means a remodel or an entirely new church building. Necessity, though, tends to be the mother of invention. Multi-site campuses, livestreaming, and on-demand access have all grown out of churches looking for creative ways to reach people without adding square footage. These options will not replace every building’s need, but they are worth considering in any church design conversation.
Read Some Case Studies Next
Each of these factors–time, cost, building condition, code issues, and growth–plays into whether a church should build new, remodel, or find a creative alternative. In coming posts, we will walk through real case studies of churches that faced this same decision and what they ultimately planned.
Meanwhile, keep learning about the church building and design process through our free i3 webinars. See the upcoming lineup and register to attend by visiting our website