Designing Education Space

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Designing Education Space

• Church Building Conference

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Start with a Master Plan

• Address the five functions of the church
• Worship
• Discipleship
• Fellowship
• Ministry
• Evangelism
• Address short-term and future needs.

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Plan Your Program Before You Plan Your Space

• What is a reasonable projection of enrollment,
  average attendance, and growth for each of the
  age-groups over the next growth cycle?
• 2. How should groups be organized in terms of
  ages, departments, classes and special needs?

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Plan Your Program Before You Plan Your Space

• How much space is needed in the various
  department and class rooms to accommodate desired
  attendance?
• 4. Are there special considerations, such as a
  day-care program, multiple scheduling of Sunday
  School, Weekday school, and multiple uses for
  certain spaces?

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Plan Your Program Before You Plan Your Space

• What must be considered when deciding locations
  for different age groups, and how should these
  relate functionally to other programs and
  activity needs of the church?
• 6. How do people get to and from these areas in
  terms of convenient movement, handicapped
  accessibility, safety, and emergencies?

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Plan Your Program Before You Plan Your Space

• What support spaces are needed beyond departments
  and class rooms?
• 8. If there are existing buildings, how can they
  best be used in combination with the new
  building?

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Plan Your Program Before You Plan Your Space

• What kind of physical features, finishes,
  facilities, furniture, and utilities are needed
  in each age-group area?
• 10. If the building is constrained by finances,
  what are the priorities?
• 11. How will this building relate to future
  phases of growth that may follow?

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Locate Groups Properly

• Assign space in logical sequence.
• Provide clear, visible signage.
• Locate elderly adults, preschoolers, and
  handicapped persons in easily accessible
  locations on the ground floor.
• Give attention to space for specialized
  activities.
• Consider times of use.

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Space Requirements Preschool

• Age Birth to first grade-
• Suggested Floor Space per child
• 35 Square feet (no room smaller than 12 X 16,
  or 200 square feet).
• Room Capacity
  7-10 (babies), 9-12 (Ones-Twos),
  12-15 (Threes-Fours),
  16-18 Fives-Kindergarten.

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Space RequirementsChildren

• Grades/Ages 1 6 / 6 11
• Suggested floor space per child
• 25 square feet, two units wide by three units
  long (minimum size 20 X 25).
• Capacity 30 maximum (including leaders).

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Space RequirementsYouth

• Grades/Ages 7 12 / 12 17
• Suggested Square feet per person
• 10 square feet in department.
• 12 square feet in classrooms.
• 18-22 square feet in multiuse
  classrooms/department rooms.

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Space RequirementsAdults

• Ages 18 and up-
• Suggested Square feet per person
• 10 square feet in departments.
• 12 square feet in classrooms.
• 18-22 Square feet in multiuse
  classrooms/department rooms.

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Plan for Technology

• Consider . . .
• Television
• Video (in house)
• Computers
• Telephones

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Plan Flexible Space

• Build fewer rooms and make them larger, rather
  than building lots of small rooms.
• Minimize interior load-bearing walls.
• Locate difficult to move spaces on the periphery.
• Use movable and flexible wall systems.

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Considerations

• Room proportions...
• Two units width/three units length for Childrens
  departments.
• Three units width/four units length for Preschool
  departments.
• Three units width/four units length for all other
  age groups is recommended.
• Ceiling heights of eight to ten feet.

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Considerations

• Windows...
• Of adequate size and number to allow enough
  daylight to the space.
• Sills low enough for occupants to see the
  exterior. (Important for preschool and
  childrens department rooms.)
• Light control for A/V, control of excessive
  brightness, safety, security.

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Considerations

• Lighting...
• Soft, uniform, adequate for reading and a
  cheerful atmosphere.
• Light level between 35 and 50 foot candles.
• Indirect lighting in rooms for bed babies.
• Electrical Outlets...
• Outlets every 12 feet on each wall in room.

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Considerations

• Floor coverings...
• Carpet
• Advantages Acoustical absorption and warm
  environment.
• Disadvantages Difficult to clean adequately
  when used in a Preschool or Childrens
  Department.
• Vinyl
• More easily cleaned, less likely to trip children

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Considerations

• Wall finishes...
• Semi-gloss paint or vinyl covering
• Light reflective value of around 70.
• Washable.
• Color choices include pale yellows, blue-green,
  green, tan, and peach.
• Accents are okay if not overdone.
• Large rooms should have an accent wall in a
  contrasting shade of the same color.

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Considerations

• Teaching Wall...
• Uncluttered wall that can be used for visuals and
  other teaching setups.
• Finished in a color or texture that would allow
  use as a projection surface.
• Install a picture rail or tacking strip.
• Murals should be discouraged. Changeable media
  can accomplish the same purpose.

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Considerations

• Storage...
• Cabinets appropriate for each age group should be
  provided in each department room.
• A resource room for children and preschool areas
  is recommended.
• Plan for more storage than seems necessary.

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Special Considerations

• Multiple programs
• Handicapped persons
• Weekday education
• Media Library
• Highly visible, located in a traffic area.
• 1 ½ to 2 square feet per person, based on
  capacity of the building.

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Uplift the Spirit

• Build spaces that . . .
• Appeal to the senses.
• Are beautiful to see.
• Are wonderful to experience.
• That uplift the Spirit.

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For More Information . . .

• Florida Baptist Convention
• [phone], ext. 8210
• www.flbaptist.org
• Lifeway Christian Resources

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Designing Education Space