Church Design

Aspen Group Blog

Knowledge to navigate the intersection of church culture, leadership, ministry, and facilities.

Greg Snider

Greg Snider joined Aspen Group in 1999. In his role of Ministry Space Strategist, Greg partners with churches to discover how they can maximize their facilities to create space for ministry impact. He has written and presented on the power of connecting space, building churches for community impact, and the hybrid "phygital" church experience.

Blog Feature

Church Design | interior design | lobbies

How Your Church Lobby Can Help Build Hospitality and Create Space for Connection

By: Greg Snider
December 07, 2022

Engaging in a church experience is about developing a deep relationship with God and fostering meaningful connections with others. Our church lobbies are an essential tool in building those connections and helping people to practice hospitality. Our new resource, Church Lobbies: 6 Zones for Connection, breaks down six zones that can help your church lobby be a place that helps grow relationships, model hospitality, and encourage generosity. In this post, we’ll talk about cafés and family rooms—two zones that offer space for refreshment and authentic connection.

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Church Design | interior design | lobbies

Church Lobbies: Creating a Place of Welcome Where People Can Take the Next Step

By: Greg Snider
November 10, 2022

Our church lobbies play a critical role in building community by giving people space and comfort to build connections, which is an essential aspect of growing together as the Body of Christ. Our new resource, Church Lobbies: 6 Zones for Connection, breaks down six zones that can help your church lobby be a place that not only helps grow relationships, but encourages people to practice hospitality and generosity. In this post, we’ll talk about Welcome and Next Steps Centers—two zones that play a critical role in creating positive first impressions and equipping people to grow in their faith.

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Making Space for Millennials Executive Summary

Making Space for Millennials Executive Summary

Discover the impact Millennials' values, allegiances, and assumptions will have on your church.

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Church Design | Renovations | lobbies

Church Lobby Renovation: Creating Space to Build Relationships

By: Greg Snider
September 13, 2022

It’s exciting when we’re able to partner with a church client on multiple building projects throughout the years. Building a solid foundation of trust and collaborating together is a rewarding experience for the church, as well as for the Aspen team. Creating spaces that impact ministry and draw people into relationships and closer to God is the ultimate win.

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Church Design | Multisite | lobbies

The Orchard Vernon Hills: A Full Sunday Experience on the First Floor

By: Greg Snider
June 27, 2022

We’ve had the privilege at Aspen to work with many churches over the years on multisite campuses, helping them to better serve their congregations, neighborhoods, and communities. The Orchard, located in the Chicago area, is a multisite we’ve been blessed to work with multiple times. Established in 1953, The Orchard's congregation was made up of 43 people who met in a school auditorium in Arlington Heights, Illinois. They've since grown to more than 3,000 people in six locations.

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Church Design | interior design | lobbies

4 Ways Your Church Lobby Can Help Build a Culture of Radical Hospitality

By: Greg Snider
April 28, 2022

People find community in many places—at work, in a book club, in a neighborhood group, or by joining a gym—all fantastic ways to connect and build relationships with others. Our church lobbies play a critical role in building true community by giving people a space to encounter God together. Engaging in a church experience is about developing a deep relationship with God and fostering meaningful relationships with others.

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Church Design | Easter | lobbies

5 Simple Ways to Get Your Church Facility Ready for Easter

By: Greg Snider
April 12, 2022

Your visitors will encounter many things before they choose a seat and listen to your sermon this Easter Sunday. How is your church facility preparing the way for your guests and helping to draw them in? Seeing your facility through the eyes of your guests will help you create a more welcoming environment and give them a reason to return. The following five tips will help you shape a positive guest experience this Easter.

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Church Design | Multisite | lobbies

Chapelstreet North Aurora—An Adaptable Design for a Compact Space

By: Greg Snider
April 04, 2022

Chapelstreet Church was looking for a unique solution for the addition and renovation of their North Aurora, Illinois campus. This compact facility required an efficient design so the spaces could be adapted to have more than one function. Aspen was called in to help, after having partnered with Chapelstreet on their South Street and Keslinger campuses, as well as their Shepherd’s Heart Care Center. The outcome was a facility with a high level of flexibility for Sundays and mid-week activities, setting them up for success in a fast-changing culture.

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Church Design | Church Construction | Design Week | ministry impact

5 Ways This Church Designed Their Space for Discipleship

By: Greg Snider
August 02, 2021

Waypoint Church in St. Charles, Missouri, has a mission of "Worship. Love. Go." This thriving community of faith wanted to adapt their church building to create a cohesive, effective, and engaging ministry space that would allow their congregation to experience a deep and intimate connection with God and others. We partnered with Waypoint on an addition and renovation aligning with these core values of relationships and missional living. Here are five ways we intentionally designed the space to foster discipleship:

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Community Impact | Relaunch Church | Phygital

Phygital Church: Brave Questions to Ask as You Blend Your Physical and Digital Ministry

By: Greg Snider
March 11, 2021

Pioneering as an online church may not have been at the top of your plan last year, but you faced challenges and discovered opportunities in the midst of a pandemic. Now, you’ve shifted into a time of anticipation and planning for what comes next for your church, both online and in-person.

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church facilities | Relaunch Church | Rapid Relaunch | Design Week

How to Adapt Your Church Lobby for COVID

By: Greg Snider
October 08, 2020

Lobbies are mission critical for churches. This is the primary space where people congregate to connect with others. However, right now, your congregation is unable to have the close-knit interactions that we encourage in lobby spaces, even if you have returned for in-person worship and gathering at your church.

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