~ Site Planning ~ Worship Center ~ Educational Center ~ Church Recreational Building ~ Additional Facilities ~

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Planning Guidelines are intended to be a general guide for estimation of property, building space, and other needs prerequisite to actual planning.  This is not a substitute for actual planning and design, but is only for making approximations.  Understanding the variables affecting their values is essential in their application to specific situations.

Purchasing Land or Buildings - consider the following: site location; the net acres suitable for building, site shape and topography prior zoning: can the site be rezoned for church use? environmental factor:  was the site ever a dump or an old factory? verify that the site has all the utilities available, especially water and sewer the land purchase agreement with the prior owner('s) should be with continuances such as zoning approval, favorable environmental study results and utility availability verify that the purchase option or agreement will give you enough time to do the above items.  In most cases, 1 year will be favorable churches may also want to consider purchasing existing property with large vacant buildings to be renovated.  This may be a viable option, but consider the initial cost of property, renovation cost and location.  Verify the environmental status of the existing site and building. Site Planning - for facilities: when relocating or purchasing land, consider the following guidelines: rural areas facilitate 200 people per acre suburban areas:  150 people per acre within major city limits:  75 to 100 people per acre due to the requirements of local municipalities concerning storm water, retention/detention and green space requirements, the acres required may vary.  In any case, the above is based on net acres (suitable acres for building and not gross acreage).  additional items to be concerned with when purchasing property: Check with local officials to verify the property or any portion of property is not in the flood plane or floodway. Check and verify no portion of the property is wetlands. In some cases existing properties may have sink holes. These are visible conditions, usually with under growth and trees around them. Be very careful of a site with these conditions.  If the property is in a rural area and a septic system is required make sure the soil type is conducive for septic tanks and septic field installation. Some health departments will not allow septic systems in certain types of soils. Visit the site, consider the slope, make sure at least 40% of the acreage is flat or of minor slope to build on. Last, consider accessibility to the site. If the property has a major highway at one side and county roads on the other the access to the site will be less expensive from the county road than from the major highway, in most cases.  General Requirements for Parking the parking ratio should be an important item in your planning. 1 space for every 3 occupants seated in the sanctuary will meet or exceed most code requirements.  *For parking requirements, check with local zoning officials.  Many have a 1 to 4 ratio. (in some case you may want to consider a 1:2 ratio) standard parking space: dimension requirement is 180 sq. ft. per car,  10' x 18' stall or 9' x 20' stall parking ground coverage: assumes efficient layout with parking on both sides of driving lanes and allowing for some landscaping and general access using 350 sq. ft. per car stall and drive equates to 124.45 cars per acre using 300 sq. ft. per car stall and drive equates to 145.2 cars per acre using 400 sq. ft. per car stall and drive equates to 108.9 cars per acre with cars being downsized, we feel a fair and reasonable ratio would be 124 cars per acre handicapped parking space:  8' x 18', with 5' access aisle van accessible parking space:  8' x 18', with 8' access aisle  (access aisle can be shared by two parking spaces) best colon cleanse *Note:  90 degree parking on both sides of two-way driving lanes is generally the most efficient layout for parking. The following requirements are from the Americans Disabilities Act (ADA) may be used as guidelines.  (Local handicapped parking requirements may vary.  Check local requirements for your area.) Total Parking in Lot Required Minimum Number of Accessible Spaces 1 to 25 1 26 to 50 2 51 to 75 3 76 to 100 4 101 to 150 5 151 to 200 6 201 to 300 7 301 to 400 8 401 to 500 9 501 to 1000 2 percent of total 1001 to over 20 plus 1 for each 100 over 1000 *Note:  one in every eight accessible spaces, but not less than one must be van accessible.

Worship Center Sanctuary: up to 300 capacity: 17 sq. . ft. per person above 300 capacity: 13 sq. . ft. per person Choir Area: minimum:  10-12 percent of congregation capacity maximum:  most larger churches are 35 percent of congregation capacity choir rows: 3.5 sq. ft. minimum depth front and back rows:  3 ft., 8 inches minimum depth movable chairs at 24 inches width per person and 36 inches back to back Stage/Pulpit Platform: platforms vary in size depending on use during praise and worship front to back:  7-15 ft. minimum; larger buildings may require 25 ft. or more height (based on flat floor in seating area):  fewer than eleven rows of congregational seating: 3 ft. maximum up to eighteen rows of congregational seating; may require a tiered platform area distance from front pew/seat to platform:  10 ft. minimum, larger buildings maybe 12 ft. minimum.  some cases will require 25 ft. or more  Congregational Seating:   local building codes should be consulted for minimum requirements row spacing: 36 inches minimum, 38 inches or more recommended row lengths and seating: average space per person, 18 inches width: 13 or 14 persons maximum per row most code requires 18 inches per seat for pews and 7 sq. ft. for chair area without fixed seats - this would equate to the following:  500 seat auditorium = 750  lineal ft. of pews required in the layout.  In reality only 80 percent of this capacity is the real seating.  So the actual sanctuary is 400, because 18 inches is too restrictive for comfort. for chairs you would need  8 sq. ft  (The 8 sq. . ft. includes access aisles, space in front of chair, and the chair itself) Chairs come in various sizes, 21 to 22 inches in width should be considered in the planning stages.  Handicapped Seating:  The following guidelines are from the (ADA)  Americans Disabilities Act for worship centers with fixed seating: Capacity of seating in assembly areas  Number of required wheelchair locations 4 to 25 1 26 to 50 2 51 to 300 4 301 to 500 6 500 + 6 plus 1 additional space for each total seating capacity increase of 100 aisle widths (check local codes):  Center or main aisle 5 ft. minimum; 6 ft. or more recommended side aisles, 3 ft. 6 inches minimum; some codes require 4 ft. Baptistry: baptistry's comes in various sizes and various capacities depending upon the manufacture inside pool dimensions:  4 ft. by 7 ft. minimum, plus internal steps; larger sizes are recommended water depth:  between 3 ft. 8 inches and 3 ft. 6 inches baptistry floor: is 39 inches above last choir row  Balcony Area: balcony location layout and size is based on site lines  good site lines are the controlling factor when locating a balcony a rear loaded balcony is best for site lines capacity:  less than 50 percent of main floor seating riser depth:  3 ft. 6 inches for first row, 3 ft. for other rows cross aisles:  4 ft. minimum - on a rear loaded balcony, you will not have any cross aisles other aisles:  will be the same width as the main floor stairwells:  code may require one exit to be directly to the outside.  Additional stairs may be desired based on design Vestibule/Lobby: serving worship 2 to 3 sq. ft. per seat in worship center  fellowship lobby serving worship center and education space: 20 to 27 percent of the worship center area Steeple Height: may be equal to distance between roof ridge and ground level or same height as building height.  may be controlled by local building requirements in most cases, these areas should be designed to suite the individual church body

Educational Facilities General building size incorporating education, fellowship, administration, music and media library, with some multi-purpose space first unit building: 30 to 40 sq. . ft. per person small churches: 40 to 45 sq. . ft. per person large churches with extensive programs: 45 to 55 sq. . ft. per person Daycare and Preschool: space per child: 35 sq. . ft. recommended room size:  12 ft.  x 18 ft. or larger windowsills:  24 inches from floor minimum for a daycare:  You must check the state and local codes for detailed requirements.  Most will need windows or doors for emergency exits.   Weekday Child Care: space per child:  35 sq. . ft. recommended outdoor recreation area:  75 sq. . ft. per child minimum, or as required by state and local codes rooms require grade level location often with direct access to exits Elementary Students: space per child: 25 sq. . ft. recommended room proportions:  rectangle or sq. . room configuration windowsills:  24 inches to 30 inches from floor room capacity:  24 maximum (600 sq. ft. maximum recommended size) Youth and Adults classrooms: 12 to 15 sq. . ft. recommended space per person

Church Recreation Building   Overall building size incorporating junior and high school basketball court, restrooms, central desk and storage 60 ft. x 100 ft., 6,000 sq. . ft. minimum 70 ft. x120 ft., 8,400 sq. . ft. recommended, this allows for some spectator area General Requirements: Court size taken from architectural standards basketball court: clear ceiling height 20 ft. minimum, 25 ft. desirable side and end lanes: 4 ft. minimum, 8 ft. preferred high school court:  50 x 85 ft. room size:  70 x 120 ft. preferred, plus 3 ft. for each additional row of spectator seating junior high school:  42 x 74 ft. (a junior high court is recommended for most churches) 62 x 94 ft. preferred, plus 3 ft. for each additional row of spectator seating racquetball/handball courts:  20 x 40 ft., 20 foot ceiling height game room:  24 x 30 ft. to 40 x 60 ft. or more group meeting rooms: 15 sq. . ft. per person with tables and chairs storage: should have direct access from gymnasium, with double-wide doors for roll-in table/chair carts there should be separate storage space for recreational equipment, craft supplies, kitchen pantry and janitorial supplies and equipment restrooms:  should be sized to handle the seating when gym is in use for fellowship functions, full table and chair layout showers with dressing room and lockers: must meet handicapped requirements (ADA)

Additional Facilities Administrative: pastor's study: 250 to 325 sq. ft; 140 sq. ft. minimum staff offices: 150 to 200 sq. ft; 120 sq. ft.minimum other office space is based on church needs: additional staff offices, workrooms, reception area, storage/closets, restrooms, lounge, kitchenette Fellowship Hall: dining capacity: 50 percent of sanctuary seating capacity space required for table seating: 12 sq. ft. per person recommended, 10 sq. ft. per person minimum, 15 sq. ft. for round tables Kitchen: institutional kitchen: The size of kitchen will vary with layout of function in most cases an institutional kitchen will require all stainless steel equipment.  The cooking line should be located on an exterior wall for hood exhaust warming kitchen:  a less costly means would have two residential dishwashers, two microwaves and two ranges.  this would be used to warm food and would meet the requirements for a warming kitchen Restrooms: minimum number of fixtures must comply with local codes  The following chart contains recommended guidelines building  women men capacity WC L WC U L up to 50 2 1 1 1 1 51-100 3 1 2 1 1 101-200 4 2 2 2 2 201-400 5 2 3 2 2 401-650 7 3 4 3 3 651-900 10 4 5 5 4 901-1200 12 5 6 6 5 preschool rooms should have direct access to a restroom (This restroom can be shared by two preschool rooms) it is recommended that churches provide a diaper changing table in at least one restroom for each sex handicapped access must comply with ADA codes  These codes usually require at least one fixture of each type to be accessible to wheelchairs in each public restroom. Other Building Concerns Mechanical Rooms: space requirements vary with region and equipment consider equipment and air flow noise in the worship center zone equipment so various program areas can be heated and cooled independently Custodial Closets/Areas: provide one closet for each approximate 10,000 sq. . ft. of building no building area should be farther than 150 ft. from a closet with a sink a minimum of one closet should be provided for each major building area and each building level  preferred location for custodial closets:  between restrooms, near elevators and near heavy traffic areas custodial closets should be separate from utility rooms housing telephone switch gear, elevator equipment, electrical panels, HVAC equipment, etc.