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The church lobby is more important than ever, providing the first connection and the opportunity for congregants to gather and engage. The design of the space can bolster personal interaction before and after a church service. The lobby contributes to the overall experience and enhances the church community, and should be designed or repurposed with both church members and newcomers in mind.
“Lobbies and gathering spaces have an immense impact on a visitor’s first impression, expectations, physical and psychological comfort and their participation and openness to new experiences,” says Sharon Exley, president of Architecture is Fun.
Put yourself in the shoes of a first-time congregant and ask what your immediate needs are upon your entrance into the church foyer.
“It needs to be more than just a way to get from point A to point B,” observes Danae Dougherty, managing principal of Visioneering Studios. “Lobby spaces are trending larger, yet our visitors should be able to navigate the building without the help of a volunteer.”
Put yourself in the shoes of a first-time congregant and ask what your immediate needs are upon your entrance into the church foyer. Does the signage make it easy to get around? Do you want to socialize with newcomers or reconnect with old friends? Where do we put coats and hats?
If you plan on giving your space a facelift or building a new one, keep these ideas in mind:
Place of welcome. The lobby enables newcomers to be comfortable, socialize and learn about their church community. “These days we are seeing gathering spaces ideal for informal meetings, in addition to their normal duties of receiving the congregation for worship,” says Kyle Grove, regional director of Church Interiors. “Most older buildings have smaller entryways. Now we are renovating spaces to be more open and inviting.”
A consistent design. The design of this greeting area must be strategic, making visitors comfortable while offering a familiar space for congregants to meet and greet. “We typically like to incorporate the same building materials that we use in the sanctuary in our gathering space,” says Grove. “If we install stone in the sanctuary, we will highlight that same material in the lobby or foyer, providing consistency throughout the renovated spaces.”
“My approach is to start with a foundation of ‘classics’ with intentional accents such as supergraphics, a pop of color and a few key upholstery pieces,” says Dougherty. “These are the pieces you replace in three to five years for a refresh and let all those foundational classic pieces keep working for the next 10-15 years.”
Tell a story. Exley observes that a design of a public space should be interactive and have a storytelling theme. “Art can add personality,” says Exley. “Use color to help create a personalized sense of community, such as commissioning iconic murals or artwork that represents your space.”
Exley adds: “Always remember that being playful and having fun is what makes your entryway remembered and valued. At Granger Community Church it was critical that we had enormous wide hallways for pick-up of children. We punctuated them with color swatches that broke up the physical length of the space featuring beautifully framed artwork created solely by children, making the space personal, inclusive and compelling.”
Defining the entryway. Spiritual spaces should be experiential, from the moment visitors walk through the doors until the moment they leave, notes Exley. Since the lobby is a multipurpose space, hosting special events and functions throughout the week in addition to a spiritual focus on Sundays, creating a compelling design is key. Bringing character to large blank walls is as simple as a fresh coat of paint and themed art. “With that said, the challenge is to create a flow through the space, bringing disparate elements together. The lobby should be more than the sum of its parts. It should be a living street, connecting visitors to the church community.”
Bringing character to large blank walls is as simple as a fresh coat of paint and themed art.
Evolving role.Dougherty observes that many lobbies serveas communication central, but that role is changing. “We recently finished a lobby renovation where the setup for engagement was more consistent with an Apple store then the traditional built-in information desk in the middle of the room.The lobby is more about relationship building than signing up for a trunk-or-treat, as more of that communication moves on-line.”
Wow visitors with color. Color and graphics are important becausethey add personality to the entryway, Exley notes. Having a core palette with branded artwork can define the heart and soul of a space.
“At Epikos Church, we created a color palette reflecting warmth and a familial aesthetic,” she adds. The yellow for the wall is creamy and bold, a solid complement to graphics and decals. “Using chalk and dry erase markers, these walls are interactive, allowing visitors to share their own thoughts and build a sense of community.”
Dougherty notes, “Lots of variables can impact the color, such as finish, lightand shades of neighboring rooms. We typically start with a classic palette and add in color and texture that responds to the design story. In some cases the local and regional context have influenced color direction as part of their story.”
Hyper-local design. There is a trend towards lively hubs, energy-reducing technologies, and hyper-local design that will address congregants’ expectations, says Exley. “Hyper-local means sharing and celebrating your community’s physical, social and cultural history. These new public spaces should be abuzz with activity, serving as a social area encouraging guests and visitors to work, chat, unwind and connect. Impromptu or planned performances can take place here. Sensors can turn lights on and off. Artwork is experiential, capturing attention and interest." All of these trends can help provide users’ public space experiences that reflect the spirit of your facility, she notes.
“Design begins with a God-inspired story used to create a unified design approach,” says Dougherty. “This may be evident with repeating materials or palettes from kids’ spaces to gathering spaces to a worship venue.”
In the end, always consider the mission, story, culture and community of each individual church, the experts agree.
Erica Cottrill
Erica Cottrill is an Atlanta-based freelance writer. She can be reached at ericafpc@gmail.com.
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