Transitions – Portable to Permanent (Part 1)
It’s a natural progression for a young church. After forming, one of the early needs is finding a place to meet that allows the church to minister to the community and hopefully grow. Historically, schools have provided a nice fit, in that they’re usually empty on Sundays when a church would need them, they have […]
Three Better Ways to Select a Contractor – Construction Manager as Constructor
Several weeks ago, we introduced the idea that there are better ways to select a contractor than to ask contractors to submit bids at the end of the contract documents phase. In a subsequent post, we discussed the pros and cons of design/build. Today we look at a project delivery method known as Construction Manager […]
The Future of Space Planning
Three Better Ways to Select a Contractor – Design/Build
In our previous blog, we gave a brief introduction to what Blueline believes are three better ways to select a contractor. In this post, we look more closely at Design/Build. This method has gained prominence over the past 40 years to the point where over 40% of all non-residential building project are done design-build. In […]
Three Better Ways to Select a Contractor
How and when you select a contractor is a critical part of minimizing the risk of a construction project. Ever-increasing costs and regulations combined with technology and building systems’ complexity make selecting the right contractor critical. The right contractor, teamed with the right architect, is essential to ensure you get the building you want, on-time, […]
Clarity Not Certainty
During a recent phone call, my good friend Pat Kase, Senior Project Developer with Aspen Group, said, “What our clients are looking for is clarity, not certainty.” Pat’s gift for insight is matched only by his deft alliteration. His words did echo what Blueline is hearing from clients as they discern whether to undertake building […]
An Ancient Faith for a Modern World
After 10 years of serving as a priest in an established Coptic Orthodox Church in Northern Virginia, Father Anthony Messeh felt a strong call to start a church that invited people from all backgrounds to join the rich spiritual legacy of the Coptic church. Father Anthony shared his call with his senior priest, then the […]
The Church Kitchen
One of our clients has a sign posted in their foyer near where they serve coffee that says, “It’s not a meeting if there is no eating.” For many churches, food is the fuel of fellowship. Of the many things we miss in the age of COVID-19, sharing a cup of coffee or a meal […]
Comprehensible, Not Comfortable—Part 2
There was a time when every surface, window, and piece of furniture in our churchbuildings told the story of Jesus and the Gospel. Every design choice was meant to inspireawe and reverence as well as educate. As literacy grew amongst Christians, and the Gospel leaped from the printed page to radio, then to television and […]
Social Distancing: Upholstery and Lighting
Soft surfaces may harbor bacteria longer due to their difficulty cleaning. However, new fabrics and fabrication techniques incorporate anti-microbial agents which can help keep your space cleaner and safer. You can also use color to indicate social distancing by using different color fabrics to create smaller groupings of furniture strategically placed throughout a space. Another […]