(Part 3 of a 3-part XPastor Series)
posted by John Jackson
Photo by Tor Listrand
This post is a continuation of a series of presentations given through XPastor.org to help mentor Executive Pastors who embarking on an architectural adventure.
See Also:
Part 1: How to Hire an Architect, and
Part 2: Typical Architectural Process for Churches
Part 3: Six Ways to be a Great Client
1. Pastor the Process
- Unify the players, process and people
- Encourage the church, the staff, and the building team
- Expect Adversity
- Engage with honest communication
- Cast Spiritual Vision
- Building Process as “mission”
- Buildings are not evil
- Buildings as a means, not an end, to worship
2. Know, and Communicate, Your DNA
- Distinguish between fashion and ministry needs – you need not be a “copiest” with your facility…or worship.
- Communicate your ministry masterplan to your people and to your architect.
- A good architectural masterplan should merely flesh out your ministry masterplan.
3. Speak with One Voice
Who is the client? Define this for your architect!
- The Staff’s Role
- Provide precise ministry needs (Programming, we will talk about this next week)
- Assign a Staff Representative to the Building Committee
- The Building Committee’s Role
- Communicate the vision and needs of the church
- Manage the project from the client’s viewpoint
- Interface with the teams assisting the church (ie. Staff, Design Team, Finance, Construction, etc,)
- Assign a committee person to be the liaison to the design team (sometimes the staff person, sometimes the Chairperson)
- Manage Change
- Develop and communicate your priorities
- Scope Creep
- Schedule Creep
- Contingency Budgeting
- Estimating during the process
- Owner
- Soft Costs
- Construction
- The Church’s Role
- To approve and support of the good work of the Staff and Building Committee, especially at a high level, not detailed. A good BC will involve the right people when detail is needed.
4. Choose an Outstanding Team
There are several teams that will help you create a successful project: (See Process Diagram)
- Client Team (Church, Staff, and Building Committee)
- Project Team (The Client Rep, Building Committee, Architect)
- Building Committee (Chairperson, Design expert, Finance Expert, Construction Expert, Staff liassetc.)
- Contractor (Project Manager, Superintendant, and many subcontractors)
Choosing the Construction Team:- Delivery Methods (See Handout)
- Construction Manager At Risk (CM@R)
- See handout on CM@R Solicitation standard form
- Design-Build by invitation
- Traditional Design-Bid-Build by invitation
- Construction Manager At Risk (CM@R)
- Integrity
- Respected by owners and subcontractors
- Quality
- Visit built projects and projects in progress
- Best Value
- Experienced team
- Project Manager
- Superintendent
- Estimators
- Check references and visit finished projects
- Talk to owners of recently completed projects (not necessarily the pastor - people who were very involved in the process)
- What is the “Cultural Fit” (Cowboy vs. Suit)
- Delivery Methods (See Handout)
5. Accept Wise Counsel
- Allow the team to serve you (see Section 3 for the typical architectural process including terms)
- Expect professionalism, give professionalism
- Keep your BALANCE (Size, Quality and Budget)
6. Celebrate & Connect
- Don't gain a whole building and lose a thousand souls!
- Prepare for growth in advance
- Staff
- Volunteers