With so many opinions, ideas, and bias’ it can often be difficult to make decisions about a church building project. Committees are concerned with the fashion and function of their desired space and often leave big decisions up to their general contractors. Unfortunately, contractors have little experience with the technology systems used so frequently every week by these churches. Here is a list of five tips to keep in mind during your next building project that you’ll thank me for.
1. Don’t Pour the Stage
The idea of pouring the stage with concrete comes up frequently in planning meetings. There is one advantage to using a concrete stage – the maintenance is lower. Rarely is it noted the many varying disadvantages of having a concrete stage.
Any future additions or modifications become ten times more expensive when the stage is concrete. Simply changing the stairs can quickly become an overly expensive endeavor. Technology is always changing. Connections, cables, and bandwidth have all gone through drastic changes in the past ten years alone. Connecting the platform to your tech booth is much easier with wood.
2. Parallel Walls Are Bad
Acoustics can be an easily overlooked element in any building project. Hiring professional acoustic consultants is often an expense that churches don’t see necessary. First, allow me a moment emphasize the importance of having and audio professional review your building plans. It will save you money in the long run – guaranteed.
Just incase, here is one nugget of truth that any acoustician will agree with: parallel walls are bad. Front to back, right to left, and floor to ceiling parallel walls are so often the culprit to bad sounding rooms. By simply offsetting these by even five degrees in opposite directions will help drastically to control the sound in your room.
3. Separate Your Electrical
Anyone who has worked with technology in an older building understands the importance of having enough power for your gear, and keeping electrical circuits separate. When your lighting dimmers are on the same circuit as sound equipment, bad things happen. Allow for plenty of power to be run to dedicated outlets for specific systems. The stage, the tech booth, audio, video, and lights should all be on their own dedicated circuits.
Adding in an additional 25-30% more outlets in these designated ares is a good idea. It will allow for future expansion (and everyone’s iPhone charger).
4. Rear Projection Is Best
If you plan on using projectors for any reason – IMAG, lyrics, presentations, etc. – consider building rear projection screens. When a projector is in a dark room the maximum amount of light is reflected on the screen. Its my personal estimation that nearly 30% of the light represented in well-lit front projection system is wasted due to ambient lighting.
5. Natural Light
The topic of natural light can often be sensitive. There is probably no more debated discussion that weighs on fashion vs. function than that surrounding natural light. We want our building to be beautiful and try to find ways to maximize the amount of natural light, but in doing so are actually limiting the creativity and beauty that can be expressed through technology.
If it was customary for churches to meet after the sun goes down Sunday evening than I would say this isn’t such a big deal. But by competing with natural light, intense compensation will need to be made by both the lighting and video systems. Projectors often need to be in the highest class and quality to display accurately in a bright naturally-lit room. Two to three more light fixtures than normal would be necessary to properly light the stage.
These expenses can add up quickly. By closing off your room entirely to natural light, lighting designers have the ability to express their talents with beautiful designs and colors. The picture from your IMAG system will be crystal clear, and all your video techs will be happy, happy.
Do you have any suggestions for church building projects I might have forgotten?
Paul says
Tommy,
What about multiple video camera(s) and physical switchers or software based switching?
What about SDI cables, or VGA projector cables and connectors over long distance?
What about LCD screen instead of projectors?
What about the size of foyer space?
What about plan for more small /medium rooms than you think you need?
What about a sloping floor in the auditorium?
We are about to build…i welcome comments?
Tommy Scully says
Paul,
These are great questions! Here are a few quick thoughts:
1. If you plan on using manned cameras build in platforms to be used as camera risers. I’ve always relied more on physical switchers than software based (and they aren’t as expensive as they used to be) Look into the Black Magic ATEM, it offers the best of both worlds.
2. HD-SDI is the way to go. I’m actually about to release an article about HD-SDI on ChurchMag…stay tuned.
3. In open spaces projectors are the way to go, in spaces with low ceilings or poor sight lines, multiple LCD/LED monitors make more sense.
4. Foyer space depends on your unique needs, is this going to double as a “fellowship hall” where there will be coffee and refreshments, or simply a foyer.
5. Plan for at least a production room that has a window into the main sanctuary. Its always nice to have a few rooms inside the production room for additional audio recording or green screen filming. Outside of production, its wise to add in a few additional rooms-but this would be unique to your churches goals and ministries.
6. Sloping floor is good (it will help your acoustics big time). The only issue with the sloping floor is that these are usually poured in place with concrete. This is expensive and permanent. If you do pour the floor, be sure to run extra thick conduit between the production room, the sound booth, camera platform locations, and the stage. keep pull lines in the conduit so when its time to change things, you’re ready.