Brown Brown and Associates Top Church Architects in Dallas Designing a ‘Green’ Church

Richardson, TX, June 21, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Brown, Brown & Associates, Architects are working with a Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex area church for one of the few Texas “LEED Silver” churches: First United Methodist Church of Celina, Texas. Currently in planning stages, Brown, Brown & Associates’ Five Phase Master Plan is focusing special design attention on applying efficient, sustainable energy and resource material practices. Areas for sustainable initiative focused design include building site, electrical vs. natural lighting, auto on/off water faucets, and use of local materials.

“‘Going green’ is innovative for any building design, but even more so for churches,” said Hardy Brown, partner and Vice President of Brown, Brown, and Associates. “In our firm’s 60 year history – specializing in churches for over 30 years – we have found that churches have always led society to be socially responsible and nurturing. But churches often work with limited resources, such as donated funds and volunteer efforts. This usually causes their focus to be on tried-and-true methods to accomplish goals more quickly rather than seeking untested or outside-the-norm approaches, whether it is a new church, renovation, or construction to accommodate church growth. We are more than delighted to enable the church to meet the energy and design challenges of today as well as for their legacy to future congregations.”

The ‘Green Church’ design being prepared by Brown, Brown and Associates, Architects, is sited on 20 purchased acres in Celina, Texas, followed by 5 phases of Master Planned growth. “It is a total church relocation,” explained Mr. Brown. “Phase 1 is registered as LEED certified, or Silver, and seats 270 in an initial worship space with gathering, small kitchen, administration, and education space. Phase 1 is 12,000 square feet with parking for 92 cars. Phase 2 adds education space and parking. Phase 3 adds a new worship space at the east of the property, increasing worship seating to 550, and adding a full kitchen and expanded education area. Phase 4 expands education, and adds a chapel and choir space. Phase 5 is the final 1,100 seat worship center, expected to be 15-20 years after Phase 1.”

A spokesperson stated that Brown, Brown and Associates, Architects were selected for the project because “of their vast experience as specialists in churches and church-related facilities to turn a vision into reality with creative solutions to budget, space and design requirements combined with their accountability to the church as client and the Kingdom of God, and their understanding of the needs of churches and are committed to the success of the church and its mission. That, as a third generational, Christian firm, Brown, Brown and Associates, Architects are dedicated to designing us a church to support our stated purpose and growth strategy, and referrals state they are very good at translating the needs of the church into land and building requirements.” Additionally, considerations that swayed the award of the project included Brown, Brown and Associates, Architects’ on-going working relationships with national leaders in church growth, worship, Sunday schools, church schools, recreation, and stewardship, with a history of functional and efficient master plans, worship, education, and recreation space. Phase 1 completion is targeted for the Fall of 2010.

Brown, Brown and Associates - Architects offers comprehensive architectural services, including:

· Basic Architectural Services - Programming, building design, construction documentation and specifications, cost estimating, interior space planning, landscape design, construction and supervision. The firm's experience includes more than 300 projects.

· Feasibility Studies - Providing studies of options available to the Church to provide long-range development on a site or sites. Data provided allows good decisions. Data can then lead to a Master Plan.

· Master Planning - A program for the orderly development of facilities over a period of many years, allowing each increment to fit into place in a preplanned manner, avoiding needless cost.

· Interior Design - The design and/or selection of furniture, fixtures, art work, floor coverings, etc., to produce an environment that is aesthetically pleasing, functional and provides comfort for the user.

· Acoustical Analysis - Design for optimum hearing conditions and masking of noise in the work setting. This is important for optimum worship and effectiveness.

· Computer Aided Design/Drafting - To assist in accurate preparation of documents. Computer aided design allows for management of real property for clients in updating plans as changes take place over the years.

· Ministry Analysis - Identify the church’s goals, focus, and current status – as well as factors limiting growth and ministry blocks – through church-selected staff and congregation member interviews, building(s) utilization, service times, and ministry format to clearly define blocks to accomplishing God’s purpose for the church as a family of faith and identify opportunities for potential growth options. The report would include the analysis process, an executive summary, conclusion, suggested options, primary issues, and church strengths and challenges.

· Other services include:
o Land Use Studies
o Feasibility Studies
o Real Estate Appraisal

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