Church and Christian education projects require more than construction expertise. They require trust, careful planning, and respect for the mission behind the space. Our Kingdom approach ensures each phase is expertly managed so you can focus on what matters most: reaching people.
Our experience includes new construction, renovations, additions, and campus improvements for churches and Christian education facilities across the region.
Church construction services often involve unique considerations, from phased construction to occupied campuses and long-term planning. We approach ministry building projects with a focus on clarity, communication, and stewardship.
Our work regularly includes:
Every decision is guided by how the space will be used and how it will serve the congregation or school for years to come.
As a dedicated church construction company, we believe strong outcomes start with preparation. Early planning allows churches and schools to understand scope, cost, and priorities before moving forward.
Our process emphasizes:
This Kingdom approach supports both worship and Christian education spaces without unnecessary disruption.
Partnering BGW's Ministry Designs with WCC's Church & School Construction expertise creates solutions specifically tailored to the unique opportunities and challenges that churches, Christian schools and colleges encounter.
Our innovative "5-Step Process" not only translates your ministry vision through architecture, but continually seeks value and savings throughout the design and construction process so that your project moves forward and remains in budget.
In 2014, WCC & BGW Architects, industry leaders in church and Christian school design, partnered together with a single mission to build God’s Kingdom by translating the vision of Christian organizations through innovative, stewardship-driven design and construction.
With more than 1,100 faith-based projects across 41 U.S. states and three foreign countries, BGW Architects offers an unmatched level of expertise in church design as well as a broad portfolio of Christian schools and colleges. As a firm that has worked exclusively with this clientele since 1998, they have an intimate understanding of the changing needs of ministry organizations and a proven record of success with a wide range of projects, from small remodels and additions to commercial building conversions and large ground-up construction projects.
Together with WCC's church & Christian education facility construction experience and a passion and commitment to promoting Kingdom growth, clients experience "A Radically Unique and Innovative 5-Step Approach to Design & Construction."
Our design process begins with a unique spin on an age-old architectural exercise called a “Charrette.” Unlike typical design methods in which the architect works separately with little “back and forth” input from the owner, this highly collaborative teamwork takes place over 3 days at the church or school site. This strategy allows design solutions to evolve quickly with real-time adaptations by the architect, based on the feedback of key ministry leaders and with WCC's expertise in building church and school facilities.
The visual tools delivered in our close-out packages include Site Plans, Floor Plans, Elevation Drawings, Exterior Photo-Realistic Renderings, Fly-Around Videos, and our detailed Preliminary Cost Estimates. We have found that this highly collaborative process builds unity and momentum within your team and provides a powerful way of confidently communicating your ministry's vision.
During this intermediate phase, BGW and WCC will assist you in your preliminary design review process with local municipalities for the required planning & zoning entitlements. These entitlement submittals typically use terms like Conditional Use Permit (CUP), Design Review or Site Plan Review and the timeline can vary depending on your municipality. Our experienced teams will walk you through the process and represent your ministry in pre-submittal and post-submittal meetings with city officials.
Phase 2 is most importantly about building and maintaining momentum for your building project. This is the perfect time to align with other experts that can help you prepare in the areas of fundraising, financing, A/V/L design and installation, strategic planning, building supplies, early childhood education and more.
Once a ministry has raised the necessary funds to move forward with Phase 3, a robust set of construction documents are developed for permitting, bidding, and the construction of your building. This set of documents includes architectural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and structural drawings, as well as coordination with A/V/L technicians and a civil engineer. The documents cover an extremely high level of detail, from the foundations, exterior wall construction, and heating and cooling configuration to the type of lighting, door hardware, and interior finishes. These are but a few of the many systems and materials detailed in the plan.
The Construction Documents Phase typically takes 5-6 months to complete, with regular design meetings scheduled between the owner, contractor, and architect to review and discuss the design options as it progresses.
BGW and WCC work closely during this critical phase to monitor and protect the project budget, to keep the ministry informed of any cost implications from design additions or revisions, and to explore cost-saving opportunities throughout the process.
Phase 4 is all about finalizing pricing and receiving plan approvals from governing bodies so the project is strategically positioned and fully prepared for the 5th and final phase of construction. The construction document approval process varies depending on the municipality and typically involves several rounds of comments from the building authority and subsequent drawing revisions before the final building permit is issued.
When the final drawings are stamped for approval, the bidding process ensues. The final plans are reviewed by the subcontractors interested in working on the project. Their bids are used to determine and establish the projects Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP).
During Pre-Con, WCC engages a civil engineering firm for site development, which is needed before the actual construction on the property begins.
Once a building permit is received, the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) is established, and the ministry gives authorization to proceed, the construction process of your facility commences.
WCC's Project Superintendent will provide onsite management of the work being performed, maintain the project schedule, and communicate progress and any concerns with the ministry’s representative and project architect during weekly meetings throughout the building process. BGW's project architect will make monthly visits to the construction site as a part of their design management responsibilities.
An integral part of the BGW & WCC Kingdom focus, the Ministry of Construction program offers a step-by-step guide to organizing a successful outreach effort during construction. Through simple acts of kindness, hospitality and appreciation, ministries are able to build relationships with local construction workers that may be working on their property for several months or more.
Our hope and prayer is that lives would be changed and hearts would be opened to hearing the truth of Jesus through these simple acts of kindness, hospitality and appreciation.
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Church and Christian education projects are deeply personal investments. Our role is to provide steady leadership, honest guidance, and dependable execution from planning through completion.
If you are considering a new facility, expansion, or renovation, we welcome the opportunity to talk through your goals and next steps.
