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Church Size

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Paul Ness MAI

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Joined
Jan 14, 2002
Professional Status
Certified General Appraiser
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Pennsylvania
Anyone have any data on specific properties or statistics that indicate sq. ft. per seat for sanctuaries and classrooms? This is for personal use, not an appraisal. My church is busting at the seams and we are considering our options.
 
Paul,
I can't give you sf/person, but here are some data from Architectural Graphics Standards, 10th ed. for church pews:

With kneelers:
Front pew 3' 4" from altar rail, successive pews 3' 0" between the tops of the seat backs.

Without kneelers:
Front pew 3' 2" from altar rail, successive pews 2' 10" between the tops of the seat backs.

Pew length, as governed by NFPA Life Safety Code (1985) is as follows:
Minimum space per person is 1' 6" (Note: the table included with this information shows 1' 8" as the minimum size, and has another column for 1' 10" spacing.) Maximum number of seats on a row with aisles on both ends is 14. Maximum row length allowed is 21' 10", again with both ends open to an aisle. Arch. Graphic Stds., p. 635)

Classrooms:
Row spacing: 48" front to back, and seats spaced 27" apart, on centers. No mention is given of code specifications; these are general classroom guidelines for school classrooms.

I think you'd do well to grab a copy of that NFPA 101 Life Safety Code and use it as a guide.

Hope this helps.
 
Doing One Today

I am working on one rat now. Church, school, huge new athletic complex. One new comp at $700,000 just sold with 350 seats. That is about $2,000 per seat. Another for sale contract pending about the same. It varies on the location and nature of the property. Was just going out the door to take picture of comp and subject's new building.
The church that just sold is building a new one and I will check but I believe it was $5,000 per seat with a large Sunday School Complex.
Maybe we should move this discussion to the lounge because talking about churches might offend somebody. :angry:

I figures the square feet per seat once but can't remember. I may find out before the day is over. Seems like it was $50 per sf per seat. I do lots of churches but my memory is fading.
 
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