Design for Place
Design for place is an important issue for faith and planet.  Designing for place inexorably combines environmental, economic and societal aspects.   Each place has unique approach to solving similar problems.  Common problems include the response of building materials to the surrounding climate, local economic enrichment and community engagement.  The Future Church solves these problems in unique, yet often similar ways.  For example, the Global Church combines high tech structural materials with abundant local materials that are known to perform well in that given climate.  By using local materials and labor, the surrounding economy is bolstered while the community develops a stake in the incoming mission because they helped build the structure.

The Rebirthed Church uses an existing building to revitalize the neighborhood and foster economic  development by offering incubation space for local businesses, job training and community gardening.  Both churches include communal spaces for a wide range of functions which engage the community beyond worship.

Biomimetic Design
Biomimicry is the practice of designing based on natures principles.  For example, butterflies use nano-sized scales on their wings to shed dirt and stay clean.

In the same vein, future church buildings can apply a coating to building exterior surfaces to minimize costs for maintenance.  This concept can be applied to any building today.  The Found Church takes the biomimetic approach to the another level.  The structure is organized much like a honeycomb.  It can even  be modified to fit any space or shape needed much like a bees  construct their hives.

The structure also responds to its surrounding similar to how pine cone scales open and close based on the surrounding temperature.  Smart material between the honeycomb structure opens or closes to varying degrees based on outside temperature and shuts completely when wet.

Another biomimetic process integrated into the Future Churches, Photovoltaic panels, are incorporated into the buildings.  Solar panels that mimic the photosynthesis of plant materials with non-toxic, renewable materials are currently under development.

Passive Design
Passive Design is the epitome of efficiency.  This is where a facility is designed around climatic conditions so that the need for simulated systems such as heating, air conditioning and lighting are minimized or eliminated.  A building that integrates prevailing winds for ventilation and natural desiccants to remove humidity requires far less energy for HVAC than a building sealed to the elements.  The Global and Rebirthed Churches both use thermal chimney, passive ventilation to cool space.

Vegetated rooftops as demonstrated in the Urban and Flexible Churches are another passive technique.  The increased insulation provided by the vegetated roof blocks rejects heat in the summer while retaining warm air in the winter as well as reducing urban heat islands created by heat absorptive materials.  Other passive strategies incorporated into the Future Churches include daylighting and solar orientation to address solar heat gain.

Church as a Pedagogical Tool
Buildings have been telling God’s stories for centuries.  Historical tools employed were: eastward orientation for the sun to rise like Christ over the altar, stained glass depictions of Biblical stories, and voluminous spaces to resonate sound emulating a heavenly experience when choirs sings.  The future church can use buildings in similar ways to teach stewardship of God’s natural world to the congregation.  The Rebirthed Church provides the opportunity to witness biology in God’s creation through the cycle of life in the community garden.  Children, congregants and the surrounding community can all participate in the natural processes.  Organic processes can show how diverse, natural systems  work in tandem to balance life, death and growth.  With sustainable strategies taught in action by the church, congregants are more likely to practice those strategies at home.

Another learning opportunity exists with the Global Church.  When it operates as a school, teachers can use the rainwater collection system for mathematics and engineering lessons.

The Challenge

Similar to the idea of a portable church meeting in found space, this team was tasked with developing a concept that could be easily implemented in found outdoor space and broken down on a weekly basis.

The Big Idea

Component based structure with easy set up that is stored in trucks.

Details and Features

- Hexagon-shaped panels configure into a variety of shapes

- Material is flexible like fabric and becomes rigid when electrified.

- Trucks contain infrastructure for the venue.

- Set up can be done in less than an hour.

The Challenge

Many churches left the urban areas in the 80′s and 90′s to build green field developments in the suburbs creating a lack of ministry in the hearts of our cities. This team was tasked with creating a viable architectural model that would meet downtown needs using existing infrastructure.

The Big Idea

Make use of structures that are readily available in urban environments—parking structures and office buildings.

Details and Features

- Space is designed to serve the church on the weekends and community needs on the weekdays possibly producing revenue.

- Concept makes use of the often unused top two decks of parking structures and brings life to empty office buildings.

- Adds green space to concrete environment.

The Challenge

The church is growing in countries where there are limited resources.  This team was tasked with developing a concept where large churches in countries with resources could provide structures that would be easily implementable in third world areas in a variety of climates and terrains.

The Big Idea

Infrastructure that can be drop-shipped and completed with indigenous materials.  Affordable, secure, sustainable, repeatable in different climates.

Details and Features

- Water storage and electricity generation

- Light materials are affordable to drop ship but strong and durable once welded

- Resilient in rainy and dry climates.

- Masonry wall with indigenous materials serves as security and can be painted/finished by local artists.

The Challenge

There is a large stock of existing church buildings that are in neighborhoods that have been abandoned for more functional facilities. This team was tasked with reimagining one of these facilities and outfitting it for a more missional approach rather than a simple attendance approach.

The Big Idea

Redesign of typical 1950’s church model to be more sustainable and improve functionality.

Details and Features

- Sustainable strategies improve aesthetics and lower energy costs.

- Renovation improves circulation and expands seat count.

- New construction creates microeconomic opportunities to meet community needs and invites the community onto the campus.

The Challenge

Ministries continue to morph to meet changing needs.  This team was tasked with developing a low cost, flexible, new construction solution that could be changed over time.

The Big Idea

Steel structure forms standard warehouse bays that can be skinned and fitted out as needed.

Details and Features

- Affordable rectangular structure can be fitted out in phases as needed.

- Two story structure allows ample space for worship and children’s ministries.

- Spaces can be reconfigured as ministry grows and changes.

- Generic structure can be sold to a commercial entity when the church outgrows it.

The designers heard what the pastors had to say, then went to work. The teams divided into different groups each with its own challenge.  The Flexible Church team worked to develop a concept that would be easily adaptable over time. The Found Church team was tasked to find something easy and scalable that could be set up anywhere at any time.  The Global Church team was tasked at creating something affordable and adaptable to the needs of under-resourced countries. The Re-Birthed Church team was tasked to breathe life into old church buildings centered in neighborhoods.  And the Urban Church team was charged with coming up with solutions for the hearts of our cities.

Jae Lee, Tom Greenwood, Rick DelMonte, Michael Kaiser, Jayson Kabala, John Jacobson, Ik Joo Lee, Scott Sumsion, Abigail Steck, Mark Mathews, David Holt

The results–quite frankly–surprised us.  They are wildly creative, meet needs, are viable, and just within reach.  We hope you will join in the dialogue as we continue to explore.