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A publication fromJacobe Brothers Construction, Ltd., and
Ron Mabry Architects
Jacobe Brothers Construction, Ltd.700 S. Southeast Loop 323
Tyler, TX 75702(903) 592-5091
(903) 592-5163 Faxwww.jacobebros.com
PresidentKen Jacobe
Vice PresidentBryan Jacobe
Vice President, Construction Keith Jacobe
Ron Mabry Architects110 N. College, Ste. 100A
Tyler, TX 75702(903) 596-8300
(903) 596-8302 Faxwww.mabryarchitects.com
PresidentRon Mabry
Editorial Mission: Church Design & Con-struction is an educational and informativeresource for clients and associates in thechurch design and church building indus-tries. This magazine features the capabili-ties, people, clients, and projects of JacobeBrothers Construction, Ltd., and Ron MabryArchitects as well as industry-related topicsof interest.
Welcome to the second issue of Church Design & Construction. Everyone who has
played a role in this issue is excited to share it with you and everyone on our "team"
looks forward to many more interesting and informative issues in the future!
As we approach the end of 2006, the Jacobe/Mabry team is reflecting on our projects, the
pride we take in our relationships with our clients, and the thrill we all experience from a
successfully completed job. As you read about our projects in this issue of our magazine,
keep in mind that not only are our design and construction projects a team effort, but this
magazine is a team effort as well. We would like to acknowledge the many subcontractors,
suppliers, vendors and business partners that you see throughout these pages who not
only have demonstrated excellence in their areas of expertise on the job site but have also
contributed to the success of this magazine with their financial support in underwriting
this publication. We would not be able to do it without them!
On another note, New Life Worship Center, a Jacobe/Mabry project located in Tyler, Texas
is featured in the national publication supplement of Metal Architecture Magazine’s fifti-
eth anniversary addition. The project was submitted by United Structures of America,
located in Houston, Texas and Shanghai, China. The 32,000 square foot project has also
received a Design Award of Excellence for a pre-engineered building by USA Structures.
We are dedicated to our clients, to our community and to excellence. With your support,
we will continue to deliver the quality projects that you have come to expect from Jacobe
Brothers Construction and Ron Mabry Architects.
Best regards,
Opening Remarks
Church Design & Construction 3
About the Cover: JacobeBrothers Construction, Ltd.,and Ron Mabry Architectstook part in the joint ven-ture to create a new homefor the First UnitedMethodist Church inJacksonville, Texas. Coverrendering courtesy of RonMabry Architects.
Finding that Solid FoundationBuilder, architect offer advice on planning church projects
New BeginningsCreative approaches enable congregation to complete facility within budget
Sharing the VisionHow to gain congregational support for your building program
468
In This Issue...
Church Design & Construction is published by QuestCorp MediaGroup, Inc., 885 E. Collins Blvd., Ste. 102, Richardson, TX 75081. Phone(972) 447-0910 or (888) 860-2442, fax (972) 447-0911,www.qcmedia.com. QuestCorp specializes in creating and publishingcorporate magazines for businesses. Inquiries: Victor Horne,vhorne@qcmedia.com. Editorial comments: Heather Hill,hhill@qcmedia.com. Please call or fax for a new subscription, changeof address, or single copy. Single copies: $5.95. This publication maynot be reproduced in part or in whole without the express writtenpermission of QuestCorp Media Group, Inc.
Bryan JacobeVice President
Jacobe Brothers Construction, Ltd.
Ron MabryPresident
Ron Mabry Architects
Ken JacobePresident
Jacobe Brothers Construction, Ltd.
Keith JacobeVice President, Construction
Jacobe Brothers Construction, Ltd.
Builder, architect offer advice on planning church projectsBy Peter Fretty
Because churches are much more than buildings,
designing and building them often requires more
planning and preparation than other construction
projects. Before any church starts planning its new home,
it is a good idea to seek the advice of experienced church
architects and builders. Bryan Jacobe, Vice President of
Jacobe Brothers Construction, and Ron Mabry, President
of Ron Mabry Architects, answer questions all churches
face when beginning a new building project.
What is the right way for a church to
start a building project?
Mabry: A successful church building campaign is much
more than a “brick-and-mortar”concept. Today’s church
building design is a complex equation of not only physi-
cal needs and physical building requirements but also an
interpretation of philosophy, positive social values, cul-
tural trends, politics, forecasting, and financial analysis.
One of the first things any congregation should do is form
a building committee to represent the church body in the
planning and construction of the project. Once the build-
ing committee is established, the first order of business
should be to select an architect and construction manager
team that has experience in providing leadership, knowl-
edge, and experience in religious facility design.
Jacobe: Church building design and construction is a
complex process, requiring expertise in many disciplines
and trades.
It is imperative that the client/architect/construction
manager team has a rock-solid foundation built on con-
fidence, trust, and experience. The success of the project
will depend on that foundation. For that reason, the
time, effort, and consideration of the building commit-
tee in selecting the architect and construction manager
will be one of its most important tasks.
What are key considerations in
selecting an architect/construction
management team?
Mabry: Church design is unique from most building
projects. It is committee driven and incorporates many
uses and sophisticated technology. It is important to
select a team that specializes in religious facility design
and has a track record of success. Communication
between the design-construction team, building com-
4 Church Design & Construction
Finding that Solid Foundation
Save the Date
The leading facilities and technology event for grow-
ing churches — the Worship Facilities Conference and
Expo (WFX) — is scheduled for November 8-10, 2006,
at the Dallas Convention Center in Texas.
During this event, Ron Mabry Architects and Jacobe
Brothers Construction (booth 1017) will present a
seminar titled,“The Seven Day Church,”which will be
conducted by Dr. Daniel Morgan of Southwestern
Baptist Theological Seminary. This presentation will
discuss how your congregation can expand its min-
istries and its impact on the community through
effective facilities design and construction planning.
To learn more, visit www.wfxweb.com. To receive
complimentary tickets to the expo, call Krista Harris
with Ron Mabry Architects at (903) 596-8300.
New Director of Business Development
Ron Mabry Architects and Jacobe Brothers
Construction are pleased to welcome Derek Watson
to their staff as the Director of Business Development.
A graduate of Texas A&M University, Watson works
with clients through the project development phase,
assisting in ministry and space planning and pro-
gramming, financial capability analysis, and the coor-
dination of project financing. Watson is active in local
church ministry and mission work in Kenya. You can
contact Derek Watson at (903) 574-2456.
Jacobe/Mabry Team Announcements
mittee, and church body is paramount. The intangibles
of trust, confidence, and the “feel-good” factor are also
important considerations.
Jacobe: The building committee should inquire and
confirm the track record of the design-construction
team in terms of soft design quality, schedule, budget,
and post construction follow-up. Ask for a list of refer-
ences and the opportunity to visit some of its projects.
What advice do you have regarding
budgeting?
Mabry: Be sure to consult your architect-construction
manager to assist you in your due diligence when
preparing your budget. You do not want to put the con-
gregation in a position where it is planning a “dream
building”it cannot afford. If you have a solid understand-
ing of what you can afford, including how much money
the congregation needs to raise and what it can borrow,
it makes the entire process of moving forward with the
design and construction much easier. When you have a
solid budget, it is easy to have everything in perspective.
It is also important to understand that equipment and
furnishings, landscape, operations cost, and the soft cost
of professional fees, finance costs, and required review/
approval fees for authorities are all part of the budget.
Jacobe: Establishing a realistic budget the church body
will support is most important. Equally important is a
constant quality and budget analysis through all phases
of the design and delivery process.
Nothing is worse than designing a building the church
can’t afford and the disappointment of redesign or
abandoning the building program altogether.
What are the common mistakes
churches tend to make?
Jacobe: Far too often, churches make the assumption
that because the church is a building, any contractor
can build it. While this may be true, there is a learning
curve associated with church building, and it com-
monly requires expertise in numerous areas, such as
priority and phasing schedules, high-end technology,
not-for-profit financing, and approved volunteer
groups. As a result, we recommend people seriously
look at what firms with church building experience
have to offer.
Mabry: Not having the church body backing the pro-
gram can cause problems. When selecting your building
committee, try to assemble a diverse group of individu-
als who are well versed in the needs of the congrega-
tion. This may mean tapping into the expertise of many
different members who otherwise may not get involved.
Having a dynamic team in place can mean all the differ-
ence in turning out a quality product. Do the research
and establish the backing of your building program with
the congregation and, above all, communicate. CDC
Church Design & Construction 5
ew BeginningsCreative approaches enable congregation tocomplete facility within budget By Nicole Achs Freeling
Using their unique team approach, Jacobe
Brothers Construction, Ltd., and Ron Mabry
Architects, both located in Tyler, Texas, were
able to resurrect a stalled building project and create a
new home for the 100-year-old First United Methodist
Church (FUMC) in Jacksonville, Texas — with a little
help from the hand of fate.
The members of FUMC, a growing congregation with
longtime roots in the area, had raised funds, hired an
architect, and spent about a year going through the
design process to build a new facility to house their
expanding faith community. But when a construction
contractor was brought on board, the church was told the
project would run $2 million more than anticipated —
almost 40 percent more than the church had budgeted.
Without the funds to pay for the projected cost, the
church put the project on indefinite hold. Then one day,
the chairman of the building committee drove through
Palestine, Texas, and saw a building project for the
Evangelistic Temple on which Jacobe Brothers was
working. He liked the project and placed a call to Bryan
Jacobe, Jacobe Brothers Vice President.“We agreed that
if we could come up with a design that met their needs
and was within their budget, they would proceed with
us,” says Jacobe.“So we came in with a fresh approach.
We gave the church an option that had not been pre-
sented to them before.”
Jacobe Brothers and Ron Mabry Architects produced a
design that not only fit within the church’s $5.3-million
budget but also included some features the original plan
did not, such as expanded seating in the sanctuary and
a striking, two-story atrium to serve as the hub of the
building and a gathering place for the congregation.
Collaboration Is Key
How the team was able to develop a project that met all
the needs of the original plan but cost $2 million less
was, according to Jacobe, a product of the way the two
firms work together from the beginning. Ron Mabry,
Principal and Owner of Ron Mabry Architects, explains.
“We design the project, and the contractor is right
behind us looking over our shoulders, ensuring costs
6 Church Design & Construction
Jacobe Brothers and Ron Mabry Architects produced a design that not only fit within the church’s budget but also addedfeatures such as expanded seating in the sanctuary and a two-story atrium.
N
stay in line. We work everything together: budget, func-
tion, and site conditions.”
Creating a building of the capacity the church wanted
within its tight budget was indeed a challenge, says
Jacobe. But, he notes, “We make our living keeping a
tight grip on costs.”Materials and labor costs can fluctu-
ate greatly, with tremendous impact on a project’s bot-
tom line. “Our vast experience in church construction
provides us an exceptional resource for providing cost
controls in the early conceptual design phase and
throughout the entire design process,” he explains. “By
the time construction documents are finished, we know
we have a design that not only meets the needs of the
client architecturally but meets the budget require-
ments, as well.”
Cost-Effective Changes
One major change the team made was a more efficient
floor plan that reduced the building’s footprint. The
original design called for approximately one-half mile of
exterior wall, a significant factor in the project’s expense.
Mabry’s design consisted of a central core rather than
linear construction. At the center of the building is a
two-story atrium that includes fireplaces, comfortable
chairs and sofas, and space for a coffee shop. The atrium
is a place the congregation can gather before and after
services, even in bad weather.
Radiating from the atrium are wings dedicated to the
different functions the church serves. There is a chil-
dren’s wing housing a day school, Sunday school, and
youth programs; an administrative wing; the sanctuary
and worship space; and administrative offices.
Even with this change, keeping the building within
budget required rigorous value engineering. Jacobe and
Mabry opted for a combination of light gauge metal
framing and pre-engineered metal for the building’s
structure. The team chose exterior finishes that were both
cost-effective and reflective of the design, with a combi-
nation of masonry and synthetic stucco, known in the
industry as EIFS (exterior insulation finishing system).
Combining Past and Present
Another challenge the design team faced was that the
elderly members of the congregation, who had been
with this church all their lives, were reluctant to move to
a new location. The church’s century-old building
included beautiful architec-
tural features that many were
loath to lose.
“We wanted to design the
new building in a way that
said, ‘You are not really
leaving your old church;
yo u ’re b r i n g i n g i t w i t h
you,’”says Mabry.
The team chose to incorpo-
rate exquisite stained glass
windows that had been in the
original sanctuary and move
them to the new building.
Construction crews removed
the windows, restored them,
added protective glass on the
outside, and reinstalled them
in the new sanctuary. This
process, according to Jacobe,
was no easy task.
“These were 25-foot tall, 100-year-old windows,” he
says.“They were made by hand, so they’re not uniform
in size. It required very intricate measuring and sizing to
create new frames and openings each one would fit
into.”Because the church was planning to sell the orig-
inal structure, the team also had to re-enclose the old
windows to the same exacting measurements.
Mabry’s design reflects a state-of-the-art building with
contemporary flair but also pays homage to the tradi-
tional by incorporating moldings, arches, vaults, and
exposed beams that are reflective of the original site.
A Dream Revitalized
“Anytime a building project gets stalled, it’s hard to get
the momentum and excitement back into it,” says
Mabry. But once FUMC church members realized what
Jacobe and Mabry could do, enthusiasm quickly built for
the project. The new facility will be completed and occu-
pied in November 2006, and church directors have said
they are thrilled with the new design.
The building committee leader says he is happy he hap-
pened upon the Jacobe construction site that day. “It
was a nice coincidence,”Jacobe says.“But then, nothing
is ever really coincidence.”CDC
Church Design & Construction 7
The skeleton of the future home of First United Methodist Churchin Jacksonville, Texas
Sharingthe Vision
Sharingthe Vision
How to gaincongregational support for your buildingprogram By Kimberly McCullough
For a church congregation, entering into a building
program can create considerable anxiety among
the membership regarding the church’s future
financial stability and the decision-making process of
the proposed project.
Many congregations begin their plans for a new facility
with preconceived ideas of how they want it to look.
This idealized version of the project escalates, and plans
are developed prematurely before enough analysis has
been put into determining the actual needs of the mem-
bership and the ability of the church to finance its
“dream”church facility.
When the financial reality sinks in and the congregants
realize their “dream” project is out of reach for their
congregation, disappointment and frustration can
become one of the biggest challenges to the future suc-
cess of the building campaign and, ultimately, any hope
of building the facility.
To avoid finding your congregation’s plans for a new
church facility in this difficult position, it is important to
realize that the key ingredient to any successful building
program is not need, cost, or design. It is congregational
support. Without it, your building program is doomed to
fail. In a worst-case scenario, a building program with-
out congregational support can potentially lead to the
downfall of a church.
On the other hand, when a congregation’s building pro-
gram has the full and enthusiastic support of its mem-
bers, success is likely, regardless of finances, design, or
political issues.
Key Parameters
To get your building program headed in the right direc-
tion, as a church leader, you must recognize that the pri-
mary building blocks of congregational support include
communication (in terms of disclosure), assurances,
accurate information, confidence, and, above all, partic-
ipation from the membership.
Church architect Ron Mabry, Principal and Owner
of Ron Mabry Architects, Tyler, Texas, has a unique
perspective on how to get this process off to
a good start. “In my professional experience over the
last 30 years, particularly the last 15 years of spe-
cializing in the design of religious facilities, the
same question is still in vogue: How do we gain
the support of the congregation in a new building
campaign? In my opinion,” he says, “this is the
wrong question.”
Mabry explains,“The question that should be asked is:
What is the best way to communicate with the congre-
gation, offer assurances, and gain confidence? Once
these ingredients are in place within the church
8 Church Design & Construction
membership, support is evident and you have a solid
foundation for a building program.”
Communicate at Every Step
Now for the “ingredients.” Mabry believes communica-
tion is vital, not only in organizing and defining the
building program but also through the entire project
delivery process — all the way through to completion of
the facility. The first step in the process of developing
your building campaign is to ensure that the people who
are going to use your facility and pay for it feel they have
a stake in how the building is developed. These “stake-
holders” should not only be informed of the thought
processes of the building committee and the profession-
als on your team, but they should also be informers.
Stakeholders should be invited to participate early in
the development of the facility’s plan to gain their input
and perspective on how they see the congregation’s
needs, the scope of the project, and the expected
budget. During this process of collecting facts, involve-
ment through subcommittees and general congrega-
tional question-and-answer sessions will assure the
members of your congregation that the building pro-
gram is for everyone and that everyone’s input is impor-
tant to the success of the program.
After gaining congregational input, it is important to
acknowledge all input that has been given. Some may
be vital to defining the needs and scope of your proj-
ect, while some may be less influential or not as rele-
vant; however, it is important that those who have
made the effort to express their views be acknowl-
edged for their contributions.
Seek Input from Experts
This give-and-take is not the only issue in assuring the
congregation that the building program is well planned
and carefully thought out. Professional input from your
architect and builder also plays an important part in the
“assurance”formula. Based on building committee, sub-
committee, and congregational data gathered, the pro-
fessionals can then develop a formal building program
identifying approximate building size, circulation, and
space-relationship diagrams (bubble diagrams), along
with site requirements, quality, and conceptual budget.
All this information can be provided before any design
documents are produced.
Bryan Jacobe of Jacobe Brothers Construction, Ltd.,
Tyler, Texas, explains the benefit of this approach. “A
design-construction team with extensive religious facil-
ity design experience has a wealth of knowledge to draw
from, providing the client an accurate program outline
rather than an ‘educated guess.’”
Your design-construction professionals will also be able
to identify priorities by phase and budget requirements,
not only for present needs but also for projected
future needs.
Share the (Realistic) Vision
The gathering and interfacing of congregational input
with your design-build professional’s experience will
produce a calculated, realistic project that assures your
congregation that the church’s needs have been consid-
ered. These requirements, along with project quality and
realistic financial parameters, will be the cornerstones of
your building program.
Your church’s building committee should focus on com-
municating the direction of the building program with
the church body, collecting congregational input, and
assembling a strategic, documented, and realistic build-
ing program. By identifying and sharing your church’s
present and future needs, the building’s site require-
ments, and budgetary considerations before starting
definitive design concept drawings, you end up with a
congregation that will be more likely to feel like a par-
ticipant in the process, providing its members with con-
fidence that the building program is inclusive,
well-thought-out, and achievable.
Your congregation of stakeholders will not only be sup-
portive and excited about your building program, but
they will also share your vision for the future, including
the possibility of expanded ministries and congrega-
tional growth. CDC
Church Design & Construction 9
The first step in the process of
developing your building campaign
is to ensure that the people who are
going to use your facility and pay for
it feel they have a stake in how the
building is developed.
10 Church Design & Construction
Directory
Code Consultants
East Texas Code Consultants
1616 Judson Rd., Ste. 5
Longview, TX 75601
(903) 236-0326 • (903) 753-8838 Fax
Concrete Contractors
Alpha Concrete Contractors, Inc.
P.O. Box 5028
Longview, TX 75608
(903) 297-2857 • (903) 295-2008 Fax
Drywall & Metal Framing
Morris Drywall
Systems, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . see back cover
Ecclesiastical Equipment
Fiberglass
Specialties, Inc. . . . . . . see inside back cover
Electrical Contractors
Trico
Enterprises, Inc. . . . . . see inside back cover
Engineering & Testing Services
Apex
Geoscience Inc. . . . . . see inside front cover
ETTL Engineers & Consultants
1717 E. Erwin
Tyler, TX 75702
(903) 595-4421 • (903) 595-6113 Fax
Fire Protection
Mutual Sprinklers, Inc. . . . . . . . see back cover
Flooring
Larry’s
Interiors, Inc. . . . . . . . see inside front cover
HVAC
East Texas
Refrigeration, Inc. . . . . . see inside front cover
MEP Design
Eastex Engineering
Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . see page 10
The Alex
Group, LLC . . . . . . . . . see inside back cover
Paving & Sitework
L & L Asphalt Corp.
3457 Shiloh Rd.
Tyler, TX 75707
(903) 561-2887 • (903) 561-6117 Fax
Russell Excavating . . . . . see inside back cover
Plumbing &
Fire Sprinkler Contractors
Rudd Contracting
Co., Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . see inside back cover
Rebar Fabricators
Lone Star Builders Supply Rebar Fabricators
P.O. Box 1549
Jacksonville, TX 75766
(903) 586-9062 • (903) 586-7326 Fax
Roof & Floor Trusses
Panel Truss
Texas, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . see inside front cover
Sound, Video & Lighting
Victory Sound Communications,
Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . see inside front cover
Steel Erectors
Cannon Steel Co., Inc.
P.O. Box 4635
Tyler, TX 75712
(903) 593-9913 • (903) 592-9744
Steel Fabrication
Tyler Steel Company
P.O. Box 89
Tyler, TX 75710
(903) 595-4551 • (903) 595-4554 Fax
Steel Structures
United Structures
of America, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . see back cover
Storefronts & Glass
Independent Glass & Mirror Co.
1322 W. Erwin St.
Tyler, TX 75702
(903) 597-8975 • (903) 593-9971 Fax
Structural Engineers
Holland
Engineering . . . . . . . . see inside front cover
Kassaw &
Dietz, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . see inside back cover
Jacobe Brothers Construction, Ltd., and Ron Mabry Architects
would like to thank the following advertisers who helped
make this publication possible.
Jacobe Brothers Construction, Ltd.700 S. Southeast Loop 323Tyler, TX 75702
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