Marsh/Bell Knows Churches
Many contractors have avoided significant amounts of church work due to the committee structure used by most congregations. Working with one or multiple committees to successfully complete a construction project is a challenge. Most of the meetings are after hours when committee members are available. Since we view our church work as a company ministry, we have enjoyed going the extra mile to help build all types of worship facilities, from sanctuaries to family life centers.
After many years of church construction, we believe that:
the facilities that churches build are a direct reflection of God's vision for their ministries and the church's style of worship, and can enhance a church's ability to reach lost souls.
the contractor chosen to work with the church can be a spiritual partner as well as a design and construction partner.
the decision making process of a church and its committee members is unique to that church. Clear, concise, and timely communication is vital to project success. We have a great track record of guiding committees through the process of determining the church's needs and translating that into a site and building design.
value should be an important goal in designing facilities, getting the most for money spent in order to be a good steward of the Lord's resources. In order for this to happen, the contractor should be working side by side with the architect and church all the way through design to determine cost implications of decisions made regarding materials and methods. In most projects, the church knows someone who would like to donate material or labor and we are glad to see how to marry that donation to the project.
considering the church's needs for many years to come, we enjoy masterplanning the church's site and buildings. Utilizing the right spaces, at the right time, for the right activities, can make a construction program very efficient and cost effective. Certain spaces can be used for multiple activities, eliminating redundancy in the design and saving costs. The ability to add or expand easily should be built into the initial design.
there should be no change orders for the church after construction begins. The cost of unanticipated change orders can upset the congregation and strain church finances. Marsh/Bell has complete responsibility for the project in our design-build process. The ways a change order would be needed is if the church changed its mind regarding the original scope or concealed conditions surface such as unsuitable soil.
fund raising for capital projects can be greatly enhanced by a good design and proper visualization of the project by the congregation. Since it's hard to imagine a building just on paper, we can provide 3-D photo's or fly-arounds of future projects that takes the guesswork out of what the project will look like, as well as assist in the selection of finishes and color combinations.
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Project Info:Brookwood Community Church South Campus Building
Larry Harmon / David Batson
Design-Build
Green Arch Architecture
Approximately 20,000 sq.ft. (total)
Two buildings (10,000 sq.ft. each)
Primary use for youth and youth activities.
• Butler Manufacturing Company Pre-Engineered Buildings.
• Painted MR24 roof systems and Stywall wall panel systems (also by Butler Mfg. Company).
• A medium reflective storefront glass system at the front courtyard area.
• Courtyard is constructed out of stamped concrete and stacked stone retaining walls.
The building is divided up into two sections: a multi-purpose building a full gymnasium and working stage. The multi-purpose area includes a café, various meeting rooms, and an open-air multi-purpose area. The multi-purpose area utilizes a gaming station and an open-seating café.
There is also a full production video studio in the multi-purpose building, as well as additional storage and shop area. Inside the multi-purpose room is a second-story control room that houses all the electronics for the working stage and gymnasium area.
The gymnasium is a full-size gym complete with six basketball goals and volleyball inserts into the floor. The floor is a Mondo sports floor system. The stage is full-height working stage that will be used for bands and performances and preaching and church services. The gym also houses a full-size baptismal pool, which is elevated above the stage level and has two separate changing rooms on the second floor. The gym also has a greenroom where guest performers/speakers are set off stage, as well as a youth director's office and additional storage areas.
A unique feature of this building is that it seats approximately 750 people inside the facility for either a church service or special activity. The buildings are completely independent of each other; however they do connect to allow a tunnel-type condition from the multi-purpose room into the gymnasium.
There is a fairly extensive electrical dimming package in the multi-purpose room and the gymnasium that coordinates with the sound video room and the stage performing areas.
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Project Info:Washington Baptist
Marsh Bell was chosen as a design build partner for Washington Baptist Church in Pelzer, SC. This facility will have a 900 seat sanctuary with choir area and educational space. The existing sanctuary will be torn down. Construction is scheduled to begin mid-fall 2008.
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Project Info:Seneca Baptist
Seneca, SC
80,000
Sanctuary, Educational Space, Administrative Area
Seneca Baptist moved to this new campus from the downtown area where they were located for 80 years. The beautiful traditional design features a 1,200 seat sanctuary utilizing approx. 24,000 sq. ft. Two 2-story educational wings occupy 52,000 sq. ft. and the balance in administrative area.
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Project Info:Burnsview Baptist
Greer, SC
16,500
Sanctuary, Educational Space, Choir Area, Gathering Space
This growing church expanded. Masterplanning has been done for their 11 acre site. The first phase facility schematics are complete and construction documents are underway. The sanctuary is designed for 700 seats including choir, easily expandable to 1,300. The design goal was to have a contemporary new building that blends well with their original sanctuary. Construction is scheduled to start this summer. See comments on our Clients Speak page.
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Project Info:Golden Corner Church
Walhalla, SC
15,000
Multi-Purpose Area for Worship/Family Life Center, Educational Space, Gathering Space
This church, which has been meeting in an elementary school for several years, has their 20+ acre site paid for and looks forward to building their new church. They plan to use a multi-purpose building concept for worship and social functions. It will feature a warm gathering space as you enter, complete with rock fireplace, and a front porch complete with rocking chairs! They will have educational wings off of the main building as well. See Pastor Mark Bagwell's comment in Our Clients Speak.
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Project Info:First Presbyterian of Greer
Greer, SC
23,000
Sanctuary, Administrative Area
This beautiful church, founded in the early 1900's, renovated their sanctuary area. We removed carpet and refinished the wood floors, rebuilt the pulpit and choir area, and repainted the entire space. A schedule was devised to allow them to continue using the sanctuary as the work progressed.
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Project Info:First Presbyterian of Greer
Greer, SC
31,000
Fellowship Space, Kitchen
This project was performed at the same time we were renovating the sanctuary. It provided the church with an outstanding space to fellowship, share meals, and accommodate occasions such as wedding receptions. Please see the comments from the pastor and the building committee in Our Clients Speak.
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Project Info:Brushy Creek Baptist
Easley, SC
42,000
Sanctuary, Choir Rehearsal Studio, Administrative Area
This 1,800 seat sanctuary was an addition to the church campus. The sanctuary features a fan shape with a sweeping balcony, a two-story entry narthex, and an area for 250 choir members to rehearse. A full package of audio, video, and lighting systems were installed to enhance the worship experience and to facilitate future conversion to an alternate use.
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Project Info:Foothills Baptist
Travelers Rest, SC
7,200
Sanctuary, Educational Space, Administrative Area
This design-build project provided a larger facility on a new site for this church. Marsh/Bell was able to get the church design in budget after four other contractors had tried previously. The pre-engineered building is highlighted with color trim and stonework.
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Project Info:Brushy Creek Baptist
Taylors, SC
60,000
Sanctuary, Educational Space, Choir Area, Kitchen
This project was an entire new church facility after moving from a previous location. The project was built of conventional steel and a split face block and brick exterior. The beautiful sanctuary was a fan shape design highlighted by coffered ceilings and utilized a flat floor.
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Project Info:Foothills Community Church
Seneca, SC
17,500
Multi-Purpose Space for Worship
This pre-engineered structure serves as an entire church facility and was designed for use as a future gymnasium.
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Project Info:Allen Temple AME Church
Greenville, SC
35,000
Gymnasium, Educational Space, Commercial Kitchen
This facility is a true community center ministering to the needs of this area of Greenville. It features a gymnasium with hardwood floor and stage area, a full commercial kitchen, two floors of classrooms and meeting spaces, and administrative areas.
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Project Info:Mauldin United Methodist Church
Mauldin, SC
6,300 sq. ft. addition, plus renovation areas
Sanctuary, Gathering Space, Gymnasium
A beautiful gathering space was added to the front of the church, just outside the sanctuary, that blended with the existing architecture. Convenient features such as restrooms, a bridal room, and an elevator were additions as well. The sanctuary and family life center were completely renovated at the same time. Marsh/Bell's creative scheduling allowed the congregation to continue worshipping in the sanctuary while renovation was ongoing.
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Project Info:Beech Springs Tabernacle
Pelzer, SC
Sanctuary, Educational Space, Nursery, Youth Area, Administrative Area
This has been one of our more interesting design-build projects. This church was land locked at their previous location and purchased a 33,000 former sewing plant on 20+ acres. This renovation project designed two phases and construction of the first phase. The construction included a new sanctuary which was a pre-engineered structure that elevated the roof in the center of the existing building. Renovations in the balance of the space provided the areas listed above.
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