Role of Committee
The Building and Property Committee is responsible for considering the plans and specifications of proposed new congregational buildings or the alteration of existing congregational buildings. Approval of the plans and specifications is only granted after consultation with the church architect to ensure that the proposal when constructed will meet the needs of the congregation and is suitable for the site it is located on and represents the full, proper and long term economic utilisation.
The Church Architect, Andrew Wilson, has been engaged by the PCV to assist the Committee in the assessment of applications referred to him by the Committee.
Seeking the Advice of the Church Architect
Boards of Management are required to consult the Church Architect, as per the requirements of Rule 2.20 (c) when they are undertaking a building works which involve any of the following works:
- Rectification of a serious defect in a building
- Constructing or purchasing of a new building
- Substantially altering an existing building.
It should be noted that this consultation is not a free service provided by the denomination. The fee charged by the Church Architect for providing this advice is $280 per hour plus GST and therefore the Board of Management must be very clear on what terms it is engaging the services of the church architect.
To assist Boards in this matter the Committee has prepared the following document, “Seeking the Advice of the Church Architect.”
The Code also requires Boards to seek the advice of the church architect when purchasing a new building. Boards should be aware that the church architect does not carry out pre-purchase condition inspections and therefore the Board will need to obtain these services from another source.
To assist with this requirement the Committee has produced the following document, “Pre-purchase Condition Inspection Guidelines”.
Making an application to erect, extend or alter a building.
- Applications for the approval of plans and specifications are to be addressed to the Building and Property Committee.
- The following extract from PCV Code 2021 Committee Regulations 5 Building and Property Committee subclause 7 details the information to be provided with the application.
Applications must be accompanied by sufficient information to enable the committee to make a proper evaluation of the proposal. Where the works relate to a new building or extensions/alterations to existing buildings this information should include, but not be limited to the following:
a) reasons for the proposed changes and a brief description of the project;
b) outline of proposed uses for the new spaces or facilities including expected number of people;
c) where appropriate, the number of members and adherents of the congregation;
d) anticipated cost and method of funding the proposed works;
e) drawings, specifications, notes and general information of sufficient detail to clearly define the extent of works proposed;
f) in the case of extended or altered buildings, drawings indicating the existing conditions;
g) details of any discussions with local Council and requirement for Planning and/or Building Permits.
When the Committee receives the application, it is forwarded to the Church Architect for comment to ensure that the proposal when constructed will meet the needs of the congregation and is suitable for the site it is located on and represents the full, proper and economic utilisation approve the plans and specifications.
The Church Architect will consider the proposal and make recommendations to the Committee on whether there are any issues that have not been addressed or whether there are any changes required to the application.
The Committee will consider the recommendations from the Church Architect and make a decision as to whether to approve the application or whether to request additional information or changes to be made to the application and advise the applicant accordingly.
The applicant should be aware that this approval is only one step in the process and that the approval of the congregation and the Presbytery are required before the building project can proceed. See 2.20 and 2.21 of PCV Code 2021 for details of these steps.
Boards of Management should be aware that regulation 4b of the Committee’s regulations state that the cost of the church architect in assessing the plans and specifications is to be borne by the Board of Management.
Documentation of Applications
Applications must be accompanied by sufficient information to enable the committee to make a proper evaluation of the proposal and with completed checklists obtainable from the committee for either in principle (concept) or final approval as the case may require. This information should include, but not be limited to the following:
a) reasons for the proposed changes and a brief description of the project;
b) outline of proposed uses for the new spaces or facilities including expected number of people;
c) where appropriate, the number of members and adherents of the congregation;
d) anticipated cost and method of funding the proposed works;
e) plans (including a site plan) and specifications, notes and general information of sufficient detail to clearly define the extent of works proposed;
f) in the case of extended or altered buildings, drawings indicating the existing conditions;
g) details of any discussions with local Council and requirement for Planning and/or Building Permits.
When the Committee receives the application, it is forwarded to the Church Architect for comment to ensure that the proposal when constructed will meet the needs of the congregation and is suitable for the site it is located on and represents the full, proper and economic utilisation.
The Church Architect will consider the proposal and make recommendations to the Committee on whether there are any issues that have not been addressed or whether there are any changes required to the application.
The Committee will consider the recommendations from the Church Architect and make a decision as to whether to approve the application or whether to request additional information or changes to be made to the application and advise the applicant accordingly.
The applicant should be aware that this approval is only one of the steps in the process and that the approval of the congregation and the Presbytery are required before the building project can proceed. See 2.20 and 2.21 of PCV Code for details of these steps.
Project Management of Major Capital Building Projects
The Committee has produced the “Procurement Guidelines for Major Building Projects” to assist congregations in making sound long term decisions in the project management of major capital building projects. These guidelines cover the procurement of external expertise to provide congregations with the necessary information to make wise decisions about the aim of the project, the options for achieving that aim, the scope of the project, the design of project from concept stage to final design stage, the preparation of tendering documentation and the tender process and then the management of the construction of the project.
Too often, congregations who, in an effort to cut costs, have engaged draughtspersons or similar to prepare plans and specifications for their project. Whilst this may be reasonable for lower cost “run of the mill” projects, it runs the risk of not considering all the necessary matters or options available for larger projects, resulting in poor decisions that fail to deliver best value for money for the project.
These guidelines are not mandatory but are considered good practice for all major capital building projects especially those whose estimated cost is greater than $300,000. This is an arbitrary figure and therefore the decision to use these guidelines should not be based on cost alone and should consider the degree of complexity in delivering the project, especially where there are heritage concerns or complicating planning overlays.
The guidelines can be downloaded by clicking on the following link. (Insert link.)
The Manse Design Manual replaces the Manse Standards.
The manual has been designed provide guidance to persons engaged by a congregation to design or alter a manse. It also provides guidance to congregations and others who wish to purchase an existing property and convert it to a manse.
The manual covers the design of the manse, the upgrade of an existing manse and the purchase of a property to be used as a manse.
The Manse Design Manual can be downloaded here.
Church Architect Contact Details
Andrew Wilson
WARC Studio Architects
4/493 Riversdale Road Camberwell VIC 3124
Phone 9012 6655
Web: www.warc.com.au
Manuals and Guides
Procurement Guidelines for Major Building Projects
Pre-purchase Condition Inspection Guidelines
Guidelines for Seeking Advice from Church Architect
Checklists
Checklist for Building Works Approval in Principle
Checklist for Building Works Approval Final
Committee Details
| Convener | Members |
|---|---|
| Ralph Kop Ph: 0400 665 197 Email: rkop@iinet.net.au | Dennis Wright Philip Thomas |