In planning a Sunday school classroom, allow 400 square feet for every 15 to 20 participants, Callahan says. Increase that amount for children, and de crease it for adults. Nurseries should be roomy enough for several children as well as adult caregivers to move about freely. They should also include space for cribs, rocking chairs, and crawling toddlers. With the new baby boom in full swing, such planning is especially critical.
Church growth is influenced by such factors as parking space and the size of classrooms.
So it's important to plan construction with a hopeful eye to ward growth so that the buildings don't quickly become inadequate. Be prudent about growth projections, however, to prevent putting up a facility that is too big. People can be put off by an uncomfortably empty room as much as by a crowded one. After the master planning process is complete, consult an architect or a design-build firm to work out the construction details. Nor can a capital fundraiser tell you what's financially feasible to build.