Some who are involved in the business of building religious facilities say the tremendous progress of the metal building industry is the answer to a prayer. It's easy to see why.

Steel buildings, or metal building systems, can be built quickly and affordably. Plus, steel buildings are extremely durable and, at the same time, offer unique features.

Of course, to a congregation, the appearance of their place of worship can influence their religious experience. A handsome building, well sited and attractively landscaped, can be inspirational to worshipers, while at the same time contributing to a community's respect for spirituality and religious fellowship. And, as if shortened construction cycles, durability, and economics weren't enough, metal buildings also offer beauty along with all the other advantages. Gone are the days when the standard steel building was a square metal box. One look at the eye-catching projects going up now and it is obvious that metal buildings are no longer limited in their capacity to adapt to various wall materials, including architectural metal, glass, brick, block, stone or wood. The industry now can fully support an architect's need for form as well as function.

Steel systems construction uses pre-engineered materials, basically the frame, roof and wall systems that are made to exact specifications, so there is no waste.

In addition to eliminating a large percentage of waste, there are environmental advantages in using steel building systems. "Green" has become an increasingly important factor in today's global building industry. Steel buildings can provide a thermally efficient envelope. And, even when the project has outlived its usefulness and must come down, there is the factor of recyclability of steel.

With today's advanced insulation technology for metal structures, efficiency can be achieved with a combination of modern insulation systems, including rigid board or rolled glass fiber and cool paint offerings.

"Metal buildings offer several green benefits," said Eric Truelove, PE, LAP, Associate AIA, and the Director of Sustainable Design Services at The Renschler Company, a construction firm in Madison , Wisconsin . "First, steel is a highly recycled material. Typically, 25 to 50 percent of the steel content in a metal building is taken from post-consumer waste. Steel is non-flammable and completely non-toxic; therefore, it does not have any negative impact on indoor air quality."

Truelove—who is affiliated with VP Buildings, one of the nation's largest manufacturers of metal building systems—continued, "Metal can easily be finished or coated to reflect sunlight, an advantage inside and outside the building. Using reflective coatings, steel roofs and exterior walls can reflect sunlight that would increase cooling loads in the building and also increase the local heat island effect. On the inside, exposed steel can be used to reflect incoming sunlight and assist with daylighting a building, which can allow facilities to use less electric energy for artificial lighting."

Of course, aside from environmental conservation, steel systems take less time to build. In some cases, using a steel system rather than another, more time-intensive alternative can mean a large cost savings simply by eliminating the number of man-hours required to build the structure. Additionally, metal building systems offer an excellent economic alternative because of the competitiveness of the industry. Additionally, most suppliers can submit a reliable estimate with a proposal and scope of work.

Advanced engineering programs allow architects to see structural plans and review clearances and frame locations prior to final production to ensure best location and interior layout.

On the subject of finances and costs, congregations considering a new worship center should understand that the actual construction of a worship center represents only 55 percent of the cost of the building. Other considerations are such things as stained glass windows, alter objects, signage, lighting, carpeting, furniture, and sound equipment, just to name a few. This also may be the time to consider new choir robes or hymn books.

A breakdown of construction-related items compiled from a survey taken by the R.S. Means Company suggests adding between 15 and 30 percent to the final construction cost to arrive at a final budget estimate for a worship complex. The allocation includes 2 percent for insurance, 5 percent for design, 3 percent for permits and utility fees, 6 percent for general conditions, 13 percent for design and builder's overhead, and another 13 percent for site work. The building construction is 55 percent – just over half the budget.

As in most projects, good planning is crucial – and is good stewardship. It will help avoid costly mistakes. A master plan that takes into consideration reasonable current development, while also keeping in mind future development, gives the building committee a road map to consult as they delineate who will use certain areas for each activity.

Some specific planning activities that can be useful are:

1. Make a list of the present facility's in adequacies.
2. Define and write down the various programs the ministry will provide the new facility.
3. Take weekly attendance by location (worship, educational classes, day care, family center, etc.) to understand the current demographic composition and usage patterns of your congregation, and survey the community to discover the needs of the congregation, such as youth recreation or senior care.

So, how big does your place of worship need to be? There is no easy answer to this question because the answer must reflect the scope of your ministry and the size of the congregation now and as it grows. It will also make a difference if you use pews or chairs and whether you have a full-service kitchen or simpler food preparation facility.

One general space guideline states that to determine the expanse of the overall worship center—including education, administration, fellowship and kitchen facilities—add 55 to 60 square feet per seat in the worship center. For example, if there are 100 seats in the worship center, you would add 5,500 square feet to your estimate to accommodate these other areas.

The site itself is another huge consideration. Determining the appropriate acreage for your place of worship entails good judgment beyond the application of minimum size standards. One must first assess how much useable space exists. An acre of land within a major city's limits will hold approximately 100 people after subtracting for easements, buffers, encroachments, floodplains, setbacks and the like – these easily can be 20 percent or more of the original land. The capacity also is dependent on the resulting shape of the property. Plus, it is important to consider future expansion contingencies and decide whether the acreage under construction can accommodate more or larger facilities in the future. It's quite possible that even a three-acre to five-acre site might not be adequate for a typical congregation's growth.

Some other site factors to assess:
* Zoning regulations and building codes
* Environmental issues
* Historic district or neighborhood covenants
* Accessibility of water supply, sewage disposal and utilities
* Air and noise pollution
* Transportation routes and traffic arteries
* Adjacent parks and recreational land
* Soil condition – topography and drainage
* Proximity to police, fire and emergency health care
* Electric power transmission easements

Finally, here are some helpful tips to consider when planning the construction of a religious facility.

Carpeting that is solution-dyed, level-loop is easier to clean. Preferably get one with an antimicrobial finish to resist bacteria-causing odors and harder-to-clean staining.

Neither the worship leader nor the congregation should face a bank of windows.

Provide plenty of storage for everything from seasonal decorations to janitorial supplies.

Consider installing the baptistry in a platform floor with a removable cover. This way, the floor space is still available for other activities and it brings the sacrament closer to the congregation. Be sure the baptistery steps are of non-skid materials.

Provide an exterior door to the administrative offices so that the rest of the building can remain secure. Also, design the office suite to have its own HVAC to minimize utility bills.

Clearly, vast improvements and new innovations make it easy to understand why metal systems are becoming a popular choice of church building committees. Excellent value, advantages for the environment, and a short timeframe to complete the project certainly are persuasive selling points.

This article is courtesy of VP Buildings, www.vp.com .

Product Roundup:
Steel/Modular Buildings

Star Building Systems
Star Building Systems was founded in 1927 and is a leader in the metal building industry with a reputation for performance and quality. From strong structural framing systems to walls, roofs and compatible accessories, Star offers beautiful solutions to your growing church's needs. A Star building will meet your need for a:
* Multi-purpose facility
* Sanctuary
* Classrooms
* Gymnasium
Each Star building is custom designed to meet your exact requirements.
www.starbuildings.com

Vanguard Modular
Vanguard Modular provides award-winning space solutions for churches and church schools. The company offers temporary or permanent buildings for:
* Offices
* Classrooms
* Fellowship halls
* Daycare facilities
* Sanctuaries
The experienced sales team makes it easy for churches to create their own unique solutions. For faster and more cost-effective solutions, the company offers in-stock, Ready-To-Roll pre-leased units that are continually refurbished and prepped for quick delivery.
www.vanguardmodular.com

Allied Steel Buildings
Allied Steel Buildings is acclaimed for setting high standards for service and performance. The company provides high-quality:
* Industrial buildings
* Manufacturing facilities
* Commercial and religious structures
The company efficiently delivers buildings from 19 steel building factories strategically located throughout the United States . The factory locations produce each pre-engineered building in its entirety, thus ensuring churches are receiving a complete steel building from one location.
www.AlliedBuildings.com

NCPG and Williams Scotsman
NCPG has the space you need through their exclusive national partner, William Scotsman, including:
* Congregation area
* Administrative facility
* Daycare center
* Standard classroom
Choose from a line of standard facilities or have their designers custom build to fit your specific needs. With more than 50 years of experience in the mobile and modular space industry, Williams Scotsman's team of local sales professionals can service all your modular space needs.
www.ncpg.com

VP Buildings
A beautiful structure can be created using a metal framing system, offering strength and durability at a lower cost than traditional construction. VP Buildings is one of the nation's largest manufacturers of metal buildings. VP engineers and manufactures a variety of:
* High-quality, pre-engineered steel framing systems
* Wall and roof panels
* Building components for low-rise steel building systems
The company markets its products through a network of more than 1,000 authorized builders. www.vp.com

Wick Buildings
Wick Buildings are designed and engineered to be strong, smart and safe for your church. Each element is chosen to meet those objectives, including the:
* Components
* Panels
* Fasteners
* Latches
They are passionate about the way they build and invite you to see for yourself. 
www.WickBuildings.com

Premier Modular Buildings
Premier Modular Buildings are built to meet or exceed all the same codes as site-built buildings. The differences are:
* The amount of time saved, as the buildings are built at the same time the site is being prepared
* The financial savings, due to a heavily controlled labor environment
Weather and labor shortages are no issue, as the buildings are built inside a climate-controlled environment. They provide clients with a quick solution, while still maintaining the quality environment.
www.PremierMod.com

Red Dot Building Systems
For more than 40 years, Red Dot Building Systems has been manufacturing and erecting quality, professionally engineered church buildings tailored to meet each customer's specifications and timeline. Their products include:
* Custom buildings
* Standard line of buildings
Red Dot Building Systems is well prepared to provide customers with the highest-quality materials and up-to-the-minute construction techniques. At Red Dot Building Systems, they pride themselves on service and quality.
www.reddotbuildings.com

Anchor Modular Buildings
Anchor Modular Buildings sells a wide variety of buildings for churches in the Mid-Atlantic region. Anchor is a Christian, family-owned business that will work with churches to design and build modular space that:
* Meets their needs
* Stays within their budget
Anchor's projects range from small classrooms for churches to large school buildings for major universities.
www.anchormodular.com