Designing Worship Areas

H E L P I N G L E A D E R S B E C O M E B E T T E R S T E W A R D S .

DESIGNINGW O R S H I P A R E A S

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Table of ContentsLAYING THE FOUNDATION 4

This brand-new series goes in-depth on the “heart” of church design: the worship space

By Curtiss H. Doss, AIA

WORSHIP TAKES SHAPE: EXAMINING TRADITIONAL SANCTUARY DESIGN — PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE NON-TRADITIONAL WORSHIP SPACE DESIGN 6

An in-depth look at the traditional worship space and the elements through which it contributes to a person’s worship experience


ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE: EXAMININGNON-TRADITIONAL WORSHIP VENUES 8

As we present Part 3 of this seven-part series, we should remind ourselves of a primary concept: Every church is different.

With this particular article, that’s especially true. in fact, the non-traditional worship space can be almost anything.


EFFECTIVE STUDENT SPACES: 3 TRIED-AND-TRUE DESIGN ELEMENTS 10

While the ultimate goal is to worship Jesus, there’s also a practical goal: to maintain a connection with the student, who’s bombarded with all the trappings of today’s culture and crowd. To be successful on both fronts, the architecture and the design of the space must uniquely “speak” to the student population.


AN EFFECTIVE WORSHIP SPACE FOR KIDS IS NO SMALL FEAT 12

Preschool and children’s spaces are the most unique of all worship spaces, in my opinion. They must capture these special worshippers and hold their attention while also supporting the worship leaders. Even with younger ages in attendance and shorter “sermons,” these services are no less significant.By Curtiss H. Doss, AIA

EXPANSION TAKES SHAPE: 3 ALTERNATIVE SITE SELECTION OPTIONS, EXAMINED 14

For many in the worship design arena, the topic of this article — alternative site selection — is compelling. In this installment, we’ll focus on three types of alternative site selection:#1: Expansion on one site (current or new)#2: Expansion on multiple sites#3: Expansion through church planting or new starts


HOW TECHNOLOGY AFFECTS WORSHIP SPACE DESIGN 16

Acoustical, audio, video and lighting systems can drastically influence — positively and / or negatively — the entire built environment of a worship space. Regardless of the type, size, style and so on, these systems today are much like the story of an old minister of music colleague: No one would ever allow a pianist to consistently miss notes while playing for worship. The same is true for the technical staff and the equipment used.

By Curtiss H. Doss, AIA with Doug Hood


Beginning a seven-part series on worship space design can be a bit intimidating.

There are so many avenues to consider, so many topics to discuss, and so many variables which can create completely different outcomes.Where do we start?

The concept of worship is somewhat elusive in that the word means different things to different people. Similarly, the design of worship spaces — or, better said, the ability to create a space

which evokes and contributes to a person’s worship experience — has equally different meanings to different people. Space, in general, has different effects on people.

Suffice it to say that we will likely only touch the “hem of the topic.” But, in doing so, maybe we can establish some critical criteria from which to serve you, the Church Executive audience, as you consider how to apply the series’ tenets to your own churches.

No two churches are alikeThe most important concept to communicate throughout

this series is this: Every church is different. In fact, at the risk of sounding repetitive, every church is so different that the point can’t be overstressed.

Each church has a DNA which must be honored. This DNA is made up of several factors, or lenses, including:

Health. Each church and its leadership has a need to constantly measure the unity of the body — its health — as one significant lens.


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Culture. Each church has a culture which (while hopefully in a slow constant change for all the good reasons) is another lens through which to view the entire concept of worship space design.

Ministries and programs. For many of us, an easier connection to the thought of designing worship spaces can be observed through the lens of ministries and programs.

Facilities. Obviously, existing facilities and / or the thought of future facilities impact this thought process as one considers worship space design.

Giving. A church’s financial capability to fund the design and construction of a worship space has a tremendous impact on this process.

Location. Finally, the location — not only in terms of locale, but also region, country and the world — will impact the design of a worship space.

The desire is to incorporate critical information about these topics for use by you, the readers, as you consider all the questions surrounding the worship area — which, at any church, is the heart of the campus for members and visitors alike.

The changing face of the worship spaceIn today’s post-church U.S. culture, a new paradigm has emerged.

The creation of a worship environment is more challenging — for all types of worship spaces — than in earlier decades.

In many cases, the public’s recognition of — and response to — church architecture is somewhat less than positive now; it might even be characterized as intimidating and austere. The vocabulary of church architecture (stained glass, soaring heights, masonry, the long basilica plan) is received by those who experience it as less than welcoming.

Throughout history, architecture has been used to draw people’s focus to the vertical relationship between the individual and God. In recent times, however, architecture has been used to create an

envelope of space to support the horizontal relationship between man and man, and the communication and technological aspects present in worship spaces. Rarely any more does a space evoke, in and of itself, the vertical relationship; many factors are at play, but certainly they include acoustics / music styles, technology of sound and video, and creature comforts in seating

Given the new paradigm, how do we design worship spaces which will communicate to the attender / visitor a warm, welcoming environment — not intimidating or austere — while clearly pointing people to the One we worship? Is it possible to accomplish this task and let the communications and technology be awesome, yet not the focus of the space?

We believe it is!The practicality of the process has many moving parts. There is the

structure of the church itself, which includes its denomination or affiliation with like-minded churches. There is a church staff, including the leader (pastor) and sometimes various staff members. There is usually at least one committee (if not more) which plays a critical role in the process. There can also be a host of design professionals / consultants, including the architect, various engineers and specialty consultants for technology, seating, liturgy and more.

As if that is not enough, there are outside influences to the design process — money, project restraints related to site and / or other facilities, and specialty factors associated with the specific church client, to name a few.

This series will allow all these elements to be fleshed out while covering the range of worship space types. Our desire is to provide meaningful information which will prove useful as the church executive reading the series puts the information to use.

Curtiss H. Doss, AIA is principal of McGehee Nicholson Burke (MNB) Architects in Memphis, TN. www.mnbarchitects.com Doss has consulted with church clients for more than 20 years, and his architectural practice spans more than 30 years.

First Baptist Church Milan — Milan, TN (Photo provided by MNB Architects)


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Worshipshapetakes

Examining traditional sanctuary design —

past, present and future


As Part 2 of this “Designing

Worship Areas” series begins, let’s

reiterate a primary concept from

Part 1: Every church is different. Having restated that precept, let’s

now look at the traditional worship

space and the elements through

which it contributes to a person’s

worship experience.

Calvary Baptist Church — Tupelo, MS (Photo courtesy of MNB Architects)


A COMFORTING CLASSICWe are all too familiar with the historical basilica-plan church. For

centuries, it was the standard of worship design.Over the centuries, this plan type has evolved in terms of the materials

used, as well as the increasing knowledge of how to maximize those materials. Some cathedrals embody the best of these features: soaring heights; expanses of stained glass; and long, reverberant atmospheres created within the structure. The continuation of this plan design to western culture and the United States is still seen in many of our older houses of worship.

Even in the 21st century, worship rooms which seat up to 700 use this plan. This size and type of room — with a platform or chancel area hosting the pulpit and / or lectern, choir and instruments — is not only expected by many churchgoers but is seen as a stable and soothing environment for worship. While the ceiling heights might not rival those of the cathedrals, they are representative of the room size and contribute to the environment of a special place for a special purpose.

It is not uncommon for such a room to have windows filled with beautiful storied stained glass. Seating is generally pews, and technology is limited.

The church I grew up attending — about an hour outside Memphis in a rural farming community of Eastern Arkansas — fits this description. The place said “church,” and worship was a strong life-element for my family and the community.

Whether you grew up in a similar environment, you have seen pictures of (or possibly worshiped in) a room like this before. With all its interior finish elements — coupled with regular and special worship services, baptisms, communion (Lord’s Supper), weddings and funerals — it created a centralizing place for my family and my community.

FAN-SHAPED PHENOMENONCompared to centuries of traditional basilica

design, the more recent history of larger rooms is primarily shaped by one construction feature — the ability to span large rooms with steel structures — and one desire: to keep the congregation close to the pulpit area for communication and intimacy. Though not connected, these two elements have begun to change the landscape of the traditional worship space. Being able to span large rooms with steel structures has allowed the implementation

of the “fan-shaped” room into the worship area design — a space in which seating sections are laid out in concentric rings, or segmented arcs, focused on the platform and interrupted by aisles leading people from the back toward the front of the room. Initially, this layout was seen as much less formal. For several decades, it continued to be used in rooms seating larger numbers of people, all for one primary reason: It brought a large number of people closer to the platform. This model has grown to be regarded as the traditional design solution for large rooms, typically with a seating capacity of 700 or more.

SOME THINGS NEVER (AND SHOULDN’T) CHANGEWith the increased use of technology in church, the elements

evoking worship have begun to include quality audio systems, creative lighting systems, video systems, and even the use of TV broadcast and Internet streaming.

Why all these changes? One can find the answer in a simple statement: There is a need to communicate to people in a clear, effective, multimedia manner such that the Gospel — the good news of Jesus — can be shared and received. To reach worshippers in this post-church culture, their expectations must be exceeded.

So, how does all this help you, the church executive, create a worshipful atmosphere for the people? We can distill it down to a few key conclusions.

Conclusion #1: We are living in a post-church culture. We can trace the need to change with the advent of new engineering, new technologies, and new methods of communication. It all keeps changing, and fast. What has not changed is the message of the Gospel, regardless of a church’s type, denomination or “flavor.”

Conclusion #2: The concept of “tradition” has changed — and will continue to do so. How we embrace this change will determine whether or not we return to the place I reminisce about: the church as the centralizing element of the family and the community, regardless of its architecture.


Collierville United Methodist Church — Collierville, TN (Photo courtesy of MNB Architects)

Fan-shaped at its finest: University Baptist Church — Fayetteville, AR (Photo

courtesy of MNB Architects)


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Calvary Baptist Church — Tupelo, MS (Photo courtesy of MNB Architects)

examining non-traditional worship venues

ALL THINGSALL PEOPLE:to

As we present Part 3 of this seven-part series, we should remind ourselves of a primary concept: Every church is different.


WITH THIS PARTICULAR ARTICLE, THAT’S ESPECIALLY TRUE. IN FACT, THE NON-TRADITIONAL WORSHIP SPACE CAN BE ALMOST ANYTHING.

So, what does a non-traditional worship space necessarily include? Some elements are universal: a room, a floor, some walls and a roof — sometimes with a ceiling.

It includes seats (most likely chairs), which are oriented toward a central focal point in the room, generally a platform. Likely, this platform is elevated a bit and outfitted with musical instruments, singers and a preacher.

You’ll typically find technical equipment such as a sound system, lighting, video and — depending on the size of the space — possibly an acoustical treatment on the various room surfaces.

And of course, there are people in the room.

SO, WHAT MAKES THIS A NON-TRADITIONAL WORSHIP SPACE?

That’s a good question — one which is best answered by two overarching elements.

#1: The building structure in which the room exists. The structure that houses this kind of worship space can be almost any kind of building, but it won’t likely resemble the traditional church structure we investigated in Part 2 of this series.

Rather, non-traditional worship spaces can occupy transitional spaces intended to support a growing church. In an existing church, this might be a multipurpose space. For a new church or a church-on-the-move, it might take the form of a repurposed school, grocery store, “big box” store, strip mall, or a stand-alone building.

#2: Worship style. In non-traditional worship spaces, I’m optimistic that the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as presented in the Bible is clearly, concisely relayed by the preacher to those in the seats — typically in a less formal way. Terms such as “progressive” and “contemporary” have been used to differentiate this worship style. Yet, I believe these aren’t entirely effective and can even lead to unnecessary discussions based on personal preferences rather than the worship for which the room was intended, for which the specific church was

founded, and to which even this series is devoted: authentic worship of Jesus.

One of these non-traditional room types — the multipurpose room — has gained popularity for its flexibility and cost-effectiveness. Worship spaces, gymnasiums and fellowship halls are found on many church campuses; the combination of these elements can simultaneously support multiple ministry options. Multipurpose rooms can take on the image of any element of its use based on the ultimate, long-term intended use. Or, it can transition from one use to another as dictated by the needs of the church over time.

We have found multipurpose worship spaces to be particularly beneficial to church clients undergoing renovation. That’s because these spaces support multiple ministry events while also functioning as worship venues.

Even so, the worship area’s aesthetics don’t necessarily need to resemble a gymnasium. Rather, they can be conducive to the acoustical needs of a worship space while supporting the needs of a gymnasium or a fellowship hall. These rooms can even accommodate breakdown into smaller rooms to support conferences and other small group needs.

Although there are technical challenges inherent to a multipurpose room which are different than a more traditional worship space, these can be overcome with a qualified technical consultation.

For new churches or churches in transition, financial capabilities and stewardship concerns favor a multipurpose format for the worship area compared to a single, dedicated room for this purpose. Most of all, this approach enables ministry dollars to drive ministry, not debt.

MANY FORMS, ONE GOAL

We have established that worship areas come in many shapes and sizes. Yet, the goal should always be the same, whether this space is traditional or non-traditional, housed in a repurposed grocery store, or a transitional multipurpose room or a multifunctional room for a larger church body. That goal is to worship Jesus.

What better purpose can there be?


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EFFECTIVE STUDENT SPACES:

3 tried-and-true design elements

Here, in part 4 of this series, we’ll shift toward a worship space designed for a specific age group: preschool / children and students. But before we begin, let me reiterate a primary precept: EVERY CHURCH IS DIFFERENT.

If you’re a regular reader of this series, it’s a familiar statement. Why? Because it’s true — and because student ministries are no different.

Many student worship spaces use design elements that promote ministry and embody many of the same elements we find in all worship spaces.

However, student worship spaces typically take it to a different level. While the ultimate goal is to worship Jesus, there’s also a practical goal:

to maintain a connection with the student, who’s bombarded with all the trappings of today’s culture and crowd. To be successful on both fronts, the architecture and the design of the space must uniquely “speak” to the student population.


SO, WHAT DOES A STUDENT WORSHIP SPACE INCLUDE? #1: A little space, please. The first, most obvious element lies outside the

room itself: When possible, student spaces are wholly detached (or at least somewhat separated) from the larger church element. This doesn’t prohibit their use by other ministries, but it does provide a “home” for students.

Today, many youth attending church come from non-traditional households — possibly, dysfunctional ones. The student ministry center, including the worship space, can be a great place for them to call “home.” It’s where all student activities occur and tends to provide a settling effect on the student, thereby opening up opportunities for ministry.

The sensitivity of those who tirelessly minister to the church’s student population is critical. It can play a huge role in each student’s ability to be captured by the power of Jesus. This place — the student worship space, or student ministry center — can make the biggest difference in a student’s life and future.

As such, these spaces must speak to the student. They must encourage participation, be a non-threatening environment, and offer a relaxed atmosphere. Here, students should find gathering spaces, sports spaces, cafés, hangout areas, gaming spaces and so on.

Again — as with every church — each student ministry center is different. What proves successful in one church might not be part of another student ministry’s DNA. Be very aware of your church’s DNA, and fashion the student spaces around it.

#2: Vibrant colors, high-tech elements and theming. Even in traditional churches, student centers tend to be unique and different from most other spaces on the campus. Many create a specific environment, such as a lodge or a coffee shop feel. Let’s face it: Most of us reading this article might feel a bit uncomfortable with this approach. But, we need to remember that it isn’t always about us — and this is certainly the case as it pertains to student ministry areas.

#3: Built-in flexibility. Since student ministries are always changing and programs are varied, its worship space needs to be able to quickly change. Our firm has found that simple construction elements are a must — including a flat floor, highly functional technical systems, and versatile platforms.

The platform should be concrete if possible; additionally, it’s a good idea to provide vehicle access to the platform via an overhead door. There are numerous times when student ministries want to have cars, motorcycles or other large elements on the platform, not to mention the need to load in and load out musical groups.

Additionally, the platform area is a sensitive space due to most building codes. The general desire is to have it function like a stage, with drapes and space above the platform to hang various items.

Many times, the design team walks a fine line with the code officials. Sometimes there are limits to how far to push the envelope.

A REAL (BUT FUN!) DESIGN CHALLENGEAll in all, effective student worship space design requires great listening

skills. Many student ministries know what they want, but struggle to articulate those needs.

When a student ministry focuses youth toward Jesus and creates a connection between a student and the church in a trouble world, the effort is well worth it.





An effective worship space for kids is no small feat

Whether or not to provide separate worship environments for the youngest demographic in a church — children and preschoolers — can spark a hot debate.

This source of contention reinforces the original premise and guiding concept for this “Designing Worship Areas” Series: Every church is different. If you’re wondering why this statement has been made five times in as many series installment, it’s simply because it’s true — and this area of ministry is a true testament.

Preschool and children’s spaces are the most unique of all worship spaces, in my opinion. They must capture these special worshippers and hold their attention while also supporting the worship leaders. Even with younger ages in attendance and shorter “sermons,” these services are no less significant. (After all: “Jesus loves me, this I know!”) We tend to make worship more complicated than it should be, and a quick visit through these age groups will bring one back to his or her spiritual roots.

Preschool and children’s worship spaces have similar elements to those found in the student areas we covered in the previous series installment. However, they generally tend to be a bit more subdued.


Aesthetical, technical and flexibleThe appropriateness of these three key design tenets — aesthetical,

technical and flexible — is unique to preschool and children’s spaces. Even as designers, many times we pay less attention to these areas, regarding them as less important … but nothing could be further from the truth. Rather, this is the most fertile soil of the heart we can find to plant the seeds and see the harvest of souls for the Kingdom.

Some unique opportunities include the coolness of the use of color, the flexibility of seating options (colored carpet tiles where each child gets his or her own tile for their seat), simplified platforms and props. Some of the photos in this article tell the story better than words can, actually.

Aesthetical. The aesthetical aspects are generally created with color and themes. Our firm has used themes such as Noah’s Ark, nature parks, outer space and warehouses to invite kids and their families to experience the ministry. We have used color to create a different environment than the ones that the “old folks” create for themselves.

The opportunity to capture the hearts of children and preschool students is very diverse and allows for geographical, as well as topical, influences to reach these impressionable hearts. If a church is located in a coastal region, a theme could be the oceans. If a church resides in the mountains, the mountain scape could be a theme.

Regardless, the opportunity to teach about God, His creation, how we’re a part of it, and His love for us is ever-present.

Technical. As with any other type of worship space, all the technical aspects related to a worship space for children and preschoolers are essential — particularly, the needs related to music and participatory involvement. Yet, many times, the technical systems in these spaces are substantially less expansive, and sometimes less expensive.

Children and preschoolers need a “home” at church, just like students. As such, the creation of environments which speak their language, encourage participation, and promote a non-threatening and relaxed

environment, produces a platform to minister. Remember that each ministry is different (as is every church) and what is successful in one ministry might work within the DNA of another ministry.

Flexibility. A third element is the need for flexibility. More often than not, funds to build space-specific areas such as worship spaces for children and preschoolers are not readily available. That makes these worship spaces more multi-use environments than “big church,” as kids call it.

With a multi-use environment, children’s and preschool ministries can accommodate a multitude of programs, from vacation bible school, to music programs, to Awana, to worship. The ability to quickly change is critical to the functionality of the space. We have found that simple construction elements are a must, including a flat floor, highly functional technical systems, and versatile platforms.

As with student areas, the desire for stage-like functions can create challenges with most building codes. An exceptional understanding of the codes and a working relationship with the building officials can avoid numerous problems during construction. Ignoring the platform / stage dilemma can negatively impact the functionality of the space.

The children’s and preschool worship space is a special design challenge; to create the desired result, it needs a great level of knowledge and understanding of the specific ministry. The personal reward of seeing these young church members worshipping Jesus and building the bridge between their hearts and the love He has for them is one of the best results we can hope to achieve in the design of religious facilities.


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Well, this series is soon to draw to a close — this is the final “Designing Worship Areas” article before our grand finale article in November / December 2015 issue!

I’m confident you’ll enjoy the final series installment; it’s a jointly written piece with a new friend, Doug Hood, president / owner of CSD Group, Inc. (Fort Wayne, IN), a nationally recognized, award-winning creative design / build AVL firm. The article will focus on technical systems and worship space design. I’m personally looking forward to it; we might have saved the best for last!

For many in the worship design arena, however, the topic of this article — alternative site selection — is equally compelling.

In this installment, we’ll focus on three types of alternative site selection:#1: Expansion on one site (current or new)#2: Expansion on multiple sites#3: Expansion through church planting or new starts

All three modes of expansion significantly impact worship space planning, and are driven by the overarching “church DNA” theme of this series. In every series installment, it has been stated — and occasionally, restated — that every church is different. The conversation surrounding alternative site options echoes this point.

All three expansion options referenced above typically present themselves to churches in a growth mode, not those where growth is stagnant or in decline. Often, the need for a different site, location or a multisite environment is driven by a desire to reach a different community or geographical area.

Option #1: Expansion on one site (current or new)Some church leadership groups decide to accommodate expansion

by relocating. While this can be a lengthy, daunting process, it’s also a

takes shape3 alternative site selection options, examinedBy Curtiss H. Doss, AIA

very exciting prospect that requires a long-term focus by the leadership team to see the process through, while also supporting existing church ministries and continued growth. Expanding on one site allows the church body to remain together and see the congregation grow within the walls of the new facility.

Pros: • Maintaining fellowship with current church members• Experiencing growth as a church family• Seeing the exciting changes that occur with growth (which encourages

members to be less tied to the status quo)• A healthy, outward focus among church members.

Cons: • Exponential expense• Crowded conditions during the transition• A challenge to remain focus on the gospel / ministry.

Option #2: Expansion on multiple sitesSome church leaders accommodate expansion by creating additional sites — all while maintaining the original church location. This approach has affectionately been referred to as a “mother / daughter” church configuration; it often fosters a special relationship between two or more congregations tied together for the long term.

Pros: • Smaller, more personable congregations• Opportunities to personally know more people • Flexibility in both land and / or building options.

Cons: • Separation from the original congregation by those starting an

additional site• Technical challenges related to preaching responsibilities with satellite

/ simulcast or site-specific preaching responsibilities• Staffing challenges.


Option #3: Expansion through church planting or new startsFinally, some church leaders accommodate expansion with a new,

independent church start. This unique solution represents a decision to create a self-sustaining congregation.

Pros: • The satisfaction of recreating a successful model• A focused process of providing for the start by selecting a core group

from the original congregation • The likelihood of a less expensive initial cost.

Cons: • Uncertainty for the new start• A smaller start size, typically• Limited staff • Limited ministry offerings.

There’s no right or wrong approach to church site expansion. In fact, I know of several successful examples of all three options across the United State. Conversely, I’m also aware of several unsuccessful models.

The bottom line is, each church’s leadership team — and each church itself — should carefully consider which expansion option is best suited to its unique DNA.




Acoustical, audio, video and lighting systems can drastically influence — positively and / or negatively — the entire built environment of a worship space.

Regardless of the type, size, style and so on, these systems today are much like the story of an old minister of music colleague: No one would ever allow a pianist to consistently miss notes while playing for worship.

The same is true for the technical staff and the equipment used.

Acoustical, audio, video and lighting systems are becoming more and more prevalent in the worship environment as a way of engaging the worshiper more than just through the auditory system. God has uniquely made each of us in such a way that, as our senses are stimulated, we gain more understanding. The more senses that are simultaneously stimulated, the more understanding is possible —and the more memorable the experience. (Wow! We were fearfully and wonderfully made.)

Focus on: acousticsWhile somewhat hard to understand, proper acoustical environments

are critical to a successful room. While it’s possible to take a room that’s acoustically incorrect and install an audio system, the system will be less than its best until the acoustical system is correct. It’s like saying the transmission (audio system) is working great, while the engine (acoustical system) isn’t firing correctly on two cylinders. The car will go down the road, but those cylinders that aren’t firing will directly correlate to the difficulty attaining adequate intelligibility with the audio system. So, make sure the acoustics are good before spending tons of money on an audio system.

By Curtiss H. Doss, AIA with Doug Hood

Focus on: audio Audio systems — commonly referred to as sound systems, but more

aptly named sound reinforcement systems — have become as common as a keyboard to the worship space environment.

Regardless of denomination or worship style, all church leaders can agree that the delivery of the spoken word (specifically, the gospel message) is of the utmost importance. Let me go one step further: The clarity of the spoken word and the ability for the congregation to understand it must be the highest priority. In other words, it’s one thing for the pastor to present the Word; it’s a far different thing to evaluate if the congregation can clearly hear every word and understand the message. If your church is contemplating a new sound system — whether for a renovation or a new construction project — take comfort in knowing that there’s a way to predict and measure this type of clarity of a loudspeaker system. It’s called a Speech Transmission Index, or STI, and it can be calculated within acoustical design software. The STI score of a system ranges from 0 to 1. The higher the STI score, the better the intelligibility. An STI rating of 0 would be the worst, while a score of 1 would be the best. It’s too much detail to get into here, but when a church works with a reputable firm who specializes in these systems, it can get a prediction of how well its system will perform during the design stage. The church can also measure and test the final results when the system installation is complete.

Focus on: video Almost as common are video systems, which typically are used for

projection of a computer-generated image for better visibility to the seating areas. These same systems can be used for image magnification via a video camera input and some complex graphic components. All these systems are typically used to draw worshippers into the worship experience by touching more of their individual senses.

The world of video is light years beyond just a screen and a projector. Not too long ago, the era of slide projectors and overhead projectors was in effect. After that came the magic of the LCD projector, which put vastly increased brightness within most churches’ reach. These projectors were pretty simple to use, and you could feed a computer or camera signal into it. Oh, the excitement!

Today, a proper video system design takes much more into account than just the size of the screen and the brightness of the projector. Just the screen itself can be a topic of discussion. Will you use left / right screens, or left / center / right, or triple-wide? Each has its own merits, which are important to evaluate during the design phase.

Next, your church will need to decide on a projector type, such as LCD, DLP or laser. Which will be best-suited to your needs and budget? Beyond projectors, there are applications where it’s best to use a single LED TV, or a group of LED TVs in a custom video wall configuration. For venues with tons of natural light pouring through — and also churches looking to be more creative with their displays — an approach using LED modular video walls can be the best solution. LED walls are totally scalable, which is a very attractive attribute when designing a custom size to fit a custom space. Beyond the obvious, there are also applications for additional video systems to serve as a digital chalkboard for the pastor, as well as “fill” monitors for use as more of a visual design element than just for lyrics or sermon notes.

The only limit is your imagination. Also important is to study not just how the congregation views video

content, but how the people on the stage can view it. Most churches are using some type of presentation software that allows them to display song lyrics to the congregation. But, how do the singers onstage see the lyrics? Depending on the depth of the room, large projection screens, TVs or LED walls can be placed on the back wall. This is sometimes referred to as a video “confidence monitor.” If the room has a balcony, this limits placement options; so, the confidence monitor could be placed on the balcony face, or there are some instances when TVs are positioned in front of the stage. As you review placement options, one thing to keep in mind is to imagine how the people on stage will appear as they look up or down

How technology affects worship space design

Raleigh First Assembly (RFA) in Raleigh, NC


to their confidence monitor. As others (the pastor, worship team and so on) lead the congregation, the goal is for the people on stage to appear as if they’re looking at the congregation; we don’t want them looking down at the floor or up at the ceiling.

Video plays a huge role outside the worship space, too. For example, how is video information transferred across the facility? Commonly referred to as “digital signage,” these systems are very effective in creating interest throughout the space, communicating content such as announcements / directions, and also for projecting a live camera feed to places such as the nursery, green room, etc., so those outside the worship space are connected to what’s happening, in real time.

Focus on: lightingThe introduction of lighting systems was very long ago; however,

the advent of new technology and the need for better visual acuity has translated a somewhat straightforward lighting concept to one which can completely transition a plain environment into a very special place.

For years now, all CSD’s designs have used all-LED solutions. That means no bulbs to change, and also no dimmer racks. This represents huge energy savings for existing buildings and new construction projects alike. When planning for your new system, you’ll want to look for a mix of fixture types. Variety is important. You want to have many tools in your toolbox so you can be creative — not just now, but for years to come as you continually work on new stage designs.

A typical system will use a combination of ellipsoidals (spots), fresnel / PAR (floods), moving lights, and strip lights for architectural accent / wall wash. By using a variety of fixtures, you’ll not only gain flexibility for design, but also save money as you can incorporate different budget ranges of fixtures. Keep in mind in this new world of LED fixtures that these can potentially require a lot of DMX channels. Be mindful during the design phase to track the amount of DMX channels required for your system, and take that into account before choosing your lighting control system.

Now, let’s move on to the house lighting fixtures for your space. The cost of full-color mixing RGBW LED fixtures has continued to come down as more and more manufacturers have created viable options. As the name implies, each fixture has red, green, blue and white LEDs so they’re capable of creating excellent white light for your day-to-day use, or for use during the sermon. However, they can also create any color of the rainbow, so you can transform the entire room instantly and creatively for worship, concerts, dramas and special productions. Currently, this is one of the areas I see clients get most excited about. Imagine your entire worship center as your empty canvas and you have a full box of huge Crayons; the possibilities are endless. Not all people respond to “production,” but everyone responds to beauty. A creative, custom lighting system will give you the ability to literally bathe your worship space in a beautiful array of color.

Examining environmental projectionMany churches have the need to dramatically change the look of the

sanctuary, but quickly and without a bunch of stuff to move around or storage concerns. Environmental projection (EP) is a tremendous value and makes this possible.

EP goes over and above the “regular” video projection system; it uses several projectors (typically, three) designed to use the walls / ceiling as the projection surface instead of a projection screen. Many churches need to do a traditional service and a contemporary service in the same space — but how? How can you create an atmosphere that will appeal to both groups of people, each different in their expectations? EP allows you to create a visually immersive space.

Let’s say you have a traditional service at 9 a.m. With EP, for your 9 a.m. service, you could project stained glass across the entire width of the room. Or, you could simply leave the system turned off — whatever works best for your congregation. Then, for your 11 a.m. contemporary service, you could have something beautiful, something edgy, or something crazy. The key to the effectiveness of this system is using what works best for your group.

Each church is different. As you tap into what your congregation responds best to, you’ll see what a powerful and creative tool environmental projection can be.

Blur the lineWhen it gets really cool is when the blending of all these systems —

properly designed and integrated — begin to create a synergistic function of pushing the worship experience, both music and spoken word, into an entirely new realm of capacity. It’s like moving from a flat-bottom fishing boat with paddle to a bass boat with a high-speed motor.

The worlds of audio / video / lighting are colliding — and that’s a good thing! As mentioned previously, there are video pieces that used as design elements. There are lighting pieces that project images. There are motorized fixtures with projectors inside so you can project full-motion video anywhere you want it. There are electronic systems that allow us to alter the acoustics of the room from an iPad. You can see how the various aspects of technology are morphing into one. This is awesome when designing!

We can now approach your entire room as a canvas, not just the stage. Often, I talk about the invisible line that exists between the front edge of the stage and the rest of the room. My goal is to remove that line altogether, or at least blur it. Working with a team approach (architect, A/V/L/A firm, builder), we encourage you to blur that line through creative design, focused engineering, and a huge vision to make your space the best it can be to deliver the most powerful Message in the world.

The bottom line is this: you need a great design team of folks — architects, engineers and specialty consultants — to create the best environments for the most effective worship experiences. They don’t have to be expensive in a relative discussion, but they do need to be balanced and done well.

One last time: Each church has a different DNA and must be addressed separately than any other church. Cookie-cutter solutions are for cookies — not churches!

Curtiss H. Doss, AIA is principal of McGehee Nicholson Burke (MNB) Architects in Memphis, TN. [ www.mnbarchitects.com ] Doss has consulted with church clients for more than 20 years, and his architectural practice spans more than 30 years.

Doug Hood is president of CSD Group, Inc. (audio / video / lighting / acoustics) in Fort Wayne, IN, and an NACDB-Certified Church Consultant. [ www.csdus.com ]

www.mnbarchitects.com

www.csdus.com

Designing Worship Areas

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