When you first heard the term multi-purpose used in connection with your church, it may have sounded revolutionary. A cutting-edge buzzword that trained professionals understood and experienced church leaders were ready and willing to embrace.
At one time, the term multi-purpose represented something fresh and bold in church architecture. That was especially the case in the 80s and 90s when church construction projects first began to include structures flexible enough for a multitude of uses.
Those early multi-purpose buildings were often pretty basic. Many were simple gymnasiums. But the function was more important than the form. It was clear from then on that multi-purpose structures would remain a fixture on modern church campuses.
While it might date me a little, I remember those heady times quite well. Without a doubt, everyone was convinced that the multi-use concept would unlock the hidden potential in churches. Multi-purpose was at the leading edge of church design and operation.
And it still is. Even after all this time, the multi-purpose concept is the territory that innovative architects and forward-thinking pastors, and church leaders are most anxious to explore.
Why Multi-Purpose Makes Sense
Multi-purpose isn’t a new term anymore. Incorporating multi-purpose space is normal in church construction. Whether the idea was first developed for churches, it has blossomed more fully in the church context than with any other type of multi-purpose commercial building. Multi-purpose may not be new, but it is inherently open and invites a creative approach.
Churches choose multi-purpose buildings for many reasons. They are versatile, enabling new or expanding churches to spend time defining the scope and range of their ministries before committing to specific-use buildings (schools, administration, sanctuaries, cafeterias, recreational rooms, etc.). Multi-purpose buildings are easier to construct and use more common materials. This speeds up construction time frames and keeps expenses down. Churches that start with multi-purpose buildings can continue with their ministries and other core operations while raising more funds to facilitate future expansion.
This is the type of multi-purpose building that has been so strongly associated with church development. This is the multi-purpose concept we’ve come to know and deeply appreciate.
But there is more to it. For me, the multi-purpose building functions as a model for other church structures. That is why I am always excited to work on these buildings.
With multi-purpose buildings, there is more going on than meets the eye.
Making a Masterful Master Plan
Through space and time, the mission and the message of the church remain the same. But methodologies and strategies do evolve.
Cultural, generational, and technological changes all impact the ministry. Churches strive to position themselves as adaptable mainstream institutions, which means they must embrace change and treat is as an ally.
Church leaders are on the lookout for new and more flexible solutions. Ideally, they’d like the entire church campus to be as versatile as the multi-purpose building. They’d like to support an expansive menu of dynamic and unique services, to the church community and the community as a whole.
This desire is reflected in master planning. Master planning is now common for all categories of venue, including schools, government facilities, retail buildings, commercial facilities, corporate headquarters, manufacturing plants, and so on. However, master planning for churches is a specialized category with wholly unique aspects.
When a church decides to add a wing for new classrooms or community meeting rooms, build a bigger kitchen, install an LED video wall, increase their auditorium seating capacity, or install a rooftop or ground-mounted solar panel array, that is not master planning. That is expansion.
When a church architect is designing a master plan, they must never forget that churches regularly expand or alter the scope and nature of their services. Master planning is scenario-oriented, meaning it must anticipate possible future developments—like expansion plans—and incorporate potential solutions upfront.
A good master plan looks ahead, and a top-flight master planner plans ahead.
Master Planning for the Future
Fortunately, church leaders in 2021 know the importance of master planning. None would suggest proceeding without one.
The church architectural firm will try to create a satisfactory, carefully customized master plan that is unique to a church’s site and congregation. To do this, the plan designers must thoroughly understand the ministries and services the church offers today. But they must also know what ministries and services the church hope to offer in the future. Over the next 10 months or 10 years, and possibly even longer than that.
Can the pastor and church leaders identify the services they plan to provide in the future? If so, how far into the future will they have planned?
Most church leaders probably haven’t thought very far ahead. Ask them to reflect on where they thought their church might be headed five years ago, and the chances are none of them would have guessed that virtual services would become all the rage, and that all churches would need to prepare to serve their members online. They likely wouldn’t have guessed exactly which community organizations would ask to use their facilities for conferences, meetings, or informal gatherings.
So, the problem this creates is obvious. If it’s impossible to predict future developments, how can the designers of a church’s master plan stay true to a church’s long-term vision?
The answer is by being as versatile and flexible as possible. In other words, by applying the same principles used to create efficient multi-purpose buildings that are adaptable from day one.
Master Planning and the Multi-Purpose Ethic
The church is a dynamic institution. Its master plan should reflect the same dynamic character. It should be customized for buildings that can change, adapt, and grow, as time passes, opportunities arise, and visions transform.
The architect must have a thorough understanding of church values and modes of operation. This is required to create structures and spaces that offer a variety of opportunities and the potential for a broad range of expressions. And the versatility and flexibility must be preserved, even after changes have already been made.
I have enormous respect for multi-purpose church buildings. They represent a fundamental element in a modern church’s outreach programs. They also express the church’s determination to serve the needs of their congregation in their entirety.
The church body is alive and well, free to grow and follow its Divine Guidance, utilizing all its forms of expression, in a multi-purpose building. If the same can be said for the entire master plan and all its building components, it means the church architect has done their job to the best of their ability. For me, that’s what it’s all about.