Many decisions need to be made when undertaking the design of a facility to be used for worship.  

 

Satisfying the needs of people involved in the project will involve those both inside and outside of the client group. Unless societal guidelines, like codes, zoning restrictions and existing easements are honored, regulatory agencies can make sure the building process doesn’t begin. Lending agencies will impose restrictions that must be honored. Site conditions will result in sometimes inflexible conditions on how the land may be used. The needs of the building community that will be translating construction documents into a physical reality must be addressed, as well as the way that process will come to fruition. Finally, every member of the religious group called the client will be bringing their own ideas to the table regarding the desired end result.    

 

This course is designed to look at the many, sometimes seemingly endless parameters and decisions that must be made and addressed, before and during the design of a worship facility.

At the end of this program the student will have:

 

A thorough understanding of the types of parameters that must be satisfied in the design of worship facilities  

 

An increased awareness of the various functions usually needing accommodated in worship facilities  

 

Knowledge of basic options available to religious groups facing the need to change or expand their facilities to accommodate growth  

 

The ability to guide religious groups in acknowledging the many costs besides the building, involved in completing projects, considering sources for capital and determining their financial feasibility of proceeding  

 

The ability to educate clients regarding various players who will be involved in making their dream a reality and how to go about selecting them  

 

An understanding of different societal guidelines that act as parameters to be met while designing worship facilities  

 

An understanding of master planning considerations that should be incorporated in sites, buildings, systems and furnishings for religious clients  

 

An understanding of basic acoustic considerations to be addressed while designing the primary spaces of buildings used for assembly purposes  

 

An understanding of the practical considerations and rules of thumb that help with initial layouts and schematic design of worship facilities  

 

An understanding of typical areas of concern found in building code restrictions, tending to govern the design of worship facilities.