There's no doubt that the design of religious
facilities is changing. Most new worship
centers bear little resemblance to the facilities
we remember from childhood. And the
difference is more than simply style. While
one can generally spot architectural trends
of a decade, the new breed of religious
facilities goes beyond - with much of the
change in form being driven by a change
in function.

Designing for Community
There is a growing conversation in church
design circles about "the third place" -
a concept put forward by Ray Oldenburg
in his book, The Great Good Place. The
premise is that the first two places in a
person's life are home and work; however,
great cities and civilizations have always
had third places where people go for informal
community, conversation and connection.
Though many church buildings in small
communities maintain their role as a meeting
place and social hub, in metropolitan areas,
people are looking for what has been lost.
Both adult and youth spaces in the church
are now places for people to connect outside
of traditional educational programs. Food
courts, coffee bars, and recreational facilities
are all being included in church campuses to
give people a place to experience community.