A church is almost always, by definition, a special construction project. Communities build churches, not individuals, and they are not built for profit, or for residence. Very unique demands are put on these structures. And with the wide number of Christian denominations represented near you and across the United States, and the unique histories that stand behind each sect, the style, the size, and iconography is a challenge in any single church construction project. A church might refer to a small rural congregation of 20, or it might refer to an urban megachurch that requires facilities that can host thousands. Some churches focus exclusively on worship services, still others offer a wide variety of community outreach programs that demand food service facilities, retail space, sports facilities, and educational facilities. Still others are historic monuments in their own right, demanding sensitive renovation and restoration work.
An entire industry of church construction exists because of this complexity. When you build a church—or expand or renovate one—your congregation needs a builder who understands these unique projects. You need a firm that understands how church budgets work, and how the church administration behind that budget releases its funds.
Whether you’re a priest at a church in the market for a new building, or you’re a deacon thinking about extending your current campus, or you’re the church treasurer and you know your historic building needs a renovation, you’ll find the firm on this list that’s right for your congregation. To come up with this list we looked at the kinds of projects the firm had completed, the awards they had won for church-specific projects, the quality of their work, and their overall experience building for religious institutions. Whether you represent a rural Anglican congregation in New England meeting in a historic building, or you want to build an impressive megachurch on the Mississippi Delta for your innovative ministry, you’ll find the firm that’s right for you here. And even if your church is not in the market for construction or restoration right now, you might find this glimpse into America’s sacred spaces—and how those spaces get built— fascinating. We certainly did.
If you are thinking about building a church, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.
25) R. Messner Construction
3122 N Cypress Wichita, KS 67226
In about three decades, R. Messner Construction has been building churches and ministries in over 17 states. Messner and his team understand the complexities of a structure like a church, that is why the company has a thorough process that involves site analysis, designing, and construction.
Since the company is focused on building worship facilities, one of Messner’s competitive edge is its experience in this niche market. Messner takes pride in its straightforward goal of helping pastors and worship communities complete their project in an economically-conscious manner.
24) PAR Church Builders
137 College St., Macon, GA 31201
With over a hundred churches built in just 13 years, PAR Church Builders is one of Georgia’s most well-regarded religious builders. PAR is known for using single-source design and Space Needs Analysis to avoid unexpected delays and excessive costs. These methods have enabled the company to save more than $20 million in project dollars. Aside from putting a premium on price, PAR is also known for its familiarity with federal, state, and local building codes. Since the firm’s sole focus is worship institutions, the company knows what it takes to build a church in any style and scale. The project highlighted here shows a space built for a massive congregation.
23) Midwest Church Design + Construction
634 Eckel Rd., Perrysburg, OH 43551
Chris Miller’s Midwest Church Design + Construction is a prominent contractor dedicated to church-building in Ohio. For more than two decades, Midwest has been providing church design, construction, consulting, and capital coaching services. The firm employs a three-phase design method that covers everything from initial estimates to handling zoning permits and plans.
The company has built local icons such as the CedarCreek Church, Gateway Church, and Victory Christian Center. In the featured work, the company has provided new construction and follow-up services to the CedarCreek Church, an 80,000 square-foot project with a 1,400 seat auditorium, classrooms, offices, a cafe, an atrium, and a chapel. Take note of the church’s progressive use of geometric shapes and diagonal features.
22) Church Facility Solutions
Tower 1, Suite 7500, 2000 S Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO 80222
Church Facility Solutions (CFS) is the trade name for Scott McLean’s Development Advisors, a general contracting firm in Denver. McLean and his company decided to establish Church Facility Solutions in 2015 as a response to the growing number of churches in the area. In a few short years, Church Facility Solutions has helped local churches expand their reach through construction. The company has a special set of designated services for building churches, including property acquisition and project management.
The firm’s efforts have helped grow congregations. The Crossroads Community Church, for example, grew from 80 weekly attendees to 2,000. CFS’s modern and sophisticated churches give an engaging feeling to churchgoers.
21) Temple Builders
30 Church St., Suite #21 New Rochelle, NY 10801
New York-based Temple Builders is a design-build firm that focuses solely on building worship facilities and the development of church-owned parcels of land, in the urban context. The company is headed by Richard A. Smith, an alumnus of the prestigious Spitzer School of Architecture in the City University of New York. Smith’s dedication to seeing revitalized church communities appealed to New York pastors and his clientele grew through referrals. In 2006, Smith established Temple Builders as a response to the under-served urban church scene in the New York City Tri-State Area.
The company is proudly minority-owned and focuses on the urban/inner city aspect of the church design-build model. In urban environments land is scarce and expensive, Smith places particular emphasis on the interior design of the space. The company provides a combination of innovative architectural, loan consulting, real estate development and construction services, that seeks to maximize every available square feet of space. This model is supported by Smith’s 30 years of design and construction expertise and his strong academic background.
20) Zion Church Builders
10687 Stadium Dr., Kalamazoo, MI 49009
Since 1965, Zion Church Builders has been developing churches across the US. The company has worked with over a thousand congregations in 40 states. Zion has an extensive portfolio and has served congregations from ranging from 18 members to over 2,000.
Zion’s building process is carried out in three phases, involving extensive planning, the construction phase itself, and cost management. Take the Faith United Methodist Church in Champaign, Illinois as an example of Zion’s religious construction expertise. The 25,840 square-foot addition included a multi-purpose room that doubles as a worship area, a narthex, a classroom, and a children’s area. This addition is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) project that cost over $4 million.
19) HiFive Church Group
202 W Main St., Mason, OH 45040
HiFive Church Group is a comprehensive contractor dedicated to building and designing churches in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. The company’s strength lies in its capacity to combine elements of civil engineering, architecture, and planning. HiFive has some unique services such as property acquisition, zoning, and capital campaign consulting. These services make the company a powerhouse in the Midwest church-building sector.
HiFive has a great portfolio of modern church and ministry facilities. The firm makes use of modern elements, such as unusual silhouettes, and innovative uses of glass. Take the Community Harvest Church in Germantown, Ohio for example. The company built a contemporary church, they also performed practical upgrades to accommodate the growing membership of its congregation. The project has multiple rooms for children’s ministries, Bible fellowships, and makes room for these activities with a warm, inviting atmosphere.
18) Solomon Builders
4539 Trousdale Dr., Nashville, TN 37204
Built through the friendship of Ty Osman and Gregg Turner, Solomon Builders has been around for over 25 years. The company has developed a number of churches across Tennessee. The company uses value engineering in its projects for budgeting. Take the Concord Road Church of Christ as an example. In the project, the company built an 8,000 square-foot addition. Solomon built the addition, extending the taupe color and the solid shape of the original structure. The addition includes educational facilities and a play area for children. This new wing provided historical continuity but gave the congregation the room in needed to move into the future.
17) Hasslen Construction
45 First St. SE, Ortonville, MN 56278
For over five generations, Hasslen Construction has been building establishments across Minnesota and South Dakota. Hasslen takes pride in a portfolio that records 12 decades of successful projects across a number of different sectors, including sports, healthcare, and religious institutions.
The company’s religious facility portfolio is defined by a cost-conscious approach that helps its clients choose the ideal materials for their projects. Hasslen understands the major elements that go into religious spaces; they know the intricacies of an entryway or a massive hall. Note the impressive use of those elements in this 26,000 square-foot American Lutheran Church. The company created a cost-effective plan that was realized by their team of experts. This church has a sanctuary, a fellowship wing, and an education wing, and it was all built on a limited budget.
16) Salco Construction
8484 Athens Ave., Baton Rouge, LA
Family-operated Salco Construction has been in operating in Louisiana since 1969. The company has built multiple religious, medical, office, and retail projects in the state. The company was founded by Tony and Chris Salvaggio and is currently led by Jeff Torrance and his wife, Carolyn Torrance. Torrance started with a sales position in the company and has climbed the ranks to become the president and chairman of the board.
Because it’s a family business, Salco is able to maintain a strong community presence. The firm has completed iconic local projects such as the Living Faith Christian Center. The project involves the construction of the original building in 2004, and an addition in 2011. Note the grand fountain and the impressive logo. The church houses one of Baton Rouge’s most active, sizable congregations with upwards of 5,000 members.
15) Gunderson Construction
1760 Commerce Court, White Bear Lake, MN 55110
Gunderson Construction is a commercial construction expert with a wide range of expertise ranging from corporate headquarters to churches. With over 21 years of operational experience, Gunderson has completed projects with the Lutheran Church, the Catholic Church, and the Methodist Church. The firm’s emphasis on completing projects on-time and on-budget have helped them to win bids on delicate projects.
The firm received the Award of Recognition for Careful and Comprehensive Exterior Rehabilitation by St. Paul Heritage Preservation Committee and the St. Paul Chapter of the American Institute of Architect. The project involved overhauling the century-old Assumption Church. Preserving a building with that kind of history is difficult enough, but Gunderson took it to another level by adding meeting and conference rooms, a food service area, and a bride’s room.
14) Bobbitt Design Build
600 Germantown Rd., Raleigh, NC 27607
Enterprises and institutions in the Carolinas are no stranger to the services of Bobbitt Design Build. Since 1946, the company has been serving businesses with cutting-edge design-build practices. The company is employee-owned and currently headed by Jim Bell, a Civil Engineering alumnus of Vanderbilt University.
With over 4,000 commercial and industrial design-build projects, Bobbitt has developed a new method that the company refers to as “integrated design-build.” This process is 33% faster than the usual design-build process and has a 6% lower construction cost. This method has been used effectively in church-building projects, perhaps because the method does well with minimal client oversight.
13) Tyler Construction Group
433 Rabon Rd., Columbia, SC 29223
Tyler Construction Group is a comprehensive general contractor that offers a wide range of services. Tyler has completed projects in aviation, worship, education, civil, and other major industries. The company credits its strong position to Walt Tyler, a Columbia Contractors Association’s SIR (Skill/Integrity/Responsibility) Award laureate in 2002. Through his leadership, the firm has won several awards, including the CEFPI 2008 Best in Class award for additions and restoration work.
In the church contracting industry, Tyler has been recognized by the Historic Columbia Foundation for preserving and restoring St. Peter’s Catholic Church. The church is regarded as the first basilica in South Carolina and is registered on the National Register of Historic Places.
12) John G. Johnson Construction Company
1284 Riverbed St., Cleveland, OH 44113
Founded in 1943, John G. Johnson Construction Company has been known as one of Ohio’s most reputable contractors. Johnson offers a full-scale construction service that operates within the industries of worship, education, hospitality, commercial, as well as other special works. The company’s decades-long construction experience is backed with various project-based awards and full safety certifications and training.
In terms of church-building, Johnson has acquired The Builders Exchange Craftsmanship Award for a new worship space built for St. John Vianney Church. The church, a local institution since 1969, is considered an icon.
11) S&B Construction
8740 E 30th St., Indianapolis, IN 46219
S&B Construction identifies itself as a faith-based contractor that offers a combination of general contracting and construction services management. The company puts a premium on keeping their employees up-to-date with current build trends and has a university program to provide ongoing training to its employees. The company is headed by William Cooper, an alumnus of Construction from Northeast Louisiana University. S&B has garnered multiple project-based awards throughout the years including several awards for church construction awarded by the Associated Builders and Contractors of the Carolinas (ABC).
In the featured S&B project, you’ll see the 100,000 square-foot Northview Church and all the impressive amenities featured within the facility. The worship center seats 2,100 and has an atrium, a cafe, a bookstore, a kid’s wing, and a youth center with a full basketball court, cafe, and grill. This project is a testament to the company’s capacity to complete complex religious facilities.
10) Anderson Companies
3340 Republic Ave., St. Louis Park, MN 55426
In a relatively short span of 20 years, Anderson Companies has built impressive projects in the healthcare, industrial, multi-family residence, retail, and worship categories. The firm is located in the Twin Cities and has contributed much to the region’s development. The company generated $78 million in revenue in 2018 and was awarded the Small Business Success Story honor by Twin Cities Business Magazine.
The company has completed various religious projects, including the Lakewood Cemetery Chapel. The company preserved the enduring beauty of the chapel by keeping its Byzantine inspiration firmly in mind. The historical renovation of the chapel was a delicate one, considering its cultural significance. The chapel is registered on the National Register of Historic Places and was designed by the Minneapolis architectural icon, Harry Wild Jones.
9) Cely Construction
800 S Washington Ave., Greenville, SC 29611
Cely Construction is a South Carolina-based general contractor and recognized as a community development leader and construction expert. Cely has received awards for its expertise in the construction business and in community development. In 2016, the company received the Pillar of Easley Award for its active role in improving the community’s economy. The firm was also awarded various awards from ABC. The firm is currently headed by Samuel Charles Cely, a second-generation contractor who has been serving as the principal for over three decades. Cely served as President and National Director of Professional Construction Estimators Association, and the Piedmont General Contractors Association.
Having a strong work history and tight relationships with the community since 1948, Cely Construction is well-regarded by the upstate South Carolina church community. The firm has completed over 500 religious projects involving both construction and renovation. In the featured work, the company built a new, updated, 15,788 facility for Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church.
8) Joseph Co.
2003 14th St., NE Suite 106 Austin, MN 55912
Joe Wagner and Dale Beckel’s Joseph Co. is one of the Midwest’s most popular construction firms. Joseph has won 15 ABC Awards of Excellence and the coveted ABC Pyramid Award, and it has 54 years of experience in the industry. The firm has also been featured in local publications such as the Austin Daily Herald and Architecture MN Magazine, where the firm had a cover feature.
Joseph’s portfolio has a strong mixture of commercial, industrial, and worship facilities. In one of the firm’s most notable works, the company restored St. Augustine’s Catholic Church. This restoration work was stellar, considering the 122-year age of the church, the $1.2 million budget, and the short time frame of five months. Joseph overhauled the paint details with a “heavenly blue” and gold scheme and upgraded the skeletal structure of the ceiling. This elegant renovation is made in line with the vision of Father James Steffes, who wanted to make the church the most elegant building in the city.
7) Morton Buildings
380 Erie Ave., Morton, IL 61550
Having built over a thousand churches over the years, Morton Buildings has solidified its credentials as one of the country’s busiest church builders. The company has a good understanding of the specific needs of the congregation, and as they build structures for a number of community-oriented structures, they know what people need from these common-use buildings. Morton’s hundred-year legacy is documented by 16 Building of the Year Awards by the National Frame Building Association and various features from Construction Magazine and Hord’s Dairyman.
6) Construction by Daniels
3056A N Aspen Ave., Broken Arrow, OK 74012
Construction by Daniels is a general contractor that specializes in church building. The company is in proud possession two Solomon Awards, an award specifically given to exceptional worship facility projects. The company is also a member of the National Association of Church Business Administration (NACBA), the Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce.
The company’s portfolio includes a number of Methodist and Baptist denominational projects. The featured $7 million project below earned the company the Mid-West Steel Building of the Year Award. The 56,000 square-foot expansion includes a foyer, a 1,200 seat auditorium, and an indoor play area. This massive expansion makes the worship experience more immersive.
5) White Construction Company
2705 Bee Cave Rd., Suite 250 Austin, Texas 78746
White Construction Company is a full-scale construction company that serves Texas, Mississippi, and Florida. The firm is presently headed by Guy White, a direct descendant of founder Charles White. White graduated from the University of Mississippi and worked in commercial real estate prior to entering the family business. White leads a team of professionals that have handled high profile clients in various fields including civil, commercial, corporate, residential, and religious.
When it comes to religious projects, White Construction has won major awards. White won the highly coveted Solomon Awards by Worship Facility Magazine in 2017 and has won several awards for individual church projects such as the Central Texas and Mississippi ABC Eagle Award.
4) Miron Construction Co., Inc.
1471 McMahon Dr., Neenah, WI 54956
Wisconsin and Iowa builder Miron Construction Co., Inc. has been an institution for over a hundred years. During those years, Miron has maintained prominence through a number of awards such as the Employ Humanity Excellence Award in 2017. They have also been named an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 100 Green Building Contractor. The company has also been recognized by local business journals and press outlets such as WIFC, Waste360, and WJFW.
In the church building industry, Miron Construction Co., Inc. has completed major religious center projects such as the LEED-certified St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, the St. Thomas More Catholic Church, and the award-winning All Saints Catholic Church .
3) Korte
5700 Oakland Ave., Suite #275 St. Louis, MO 63110
Design-build firm Korte is a well-established contractor that has built over 3,000 projects since 1958. Korte is one of the seven founding members of the Design-Build Institute of America and about 90% of its work volume is design-build projects. The firm won the DBIA award and it was named the NAIOP General Contracting Firm of the Year in 2016 and 2019. These major awards serve as a testament to the firm’s ability to respond to different construction needs and the high standards it brings to these projects.
The firm builds across the nation, completing a broad range of projects from the Department of Defense facilities to corporate offices, from plane hangars to centers of worship. When it takes on a church construction project, the firm takes the time to understand the unique ministry of that particular church before it begins building.
2) Monarc Construction
2781 Hartland Rd., Falls Church, VA 22043
Building in over 30 countries, with a strong footing in Washington D.C., Monarc Construction is one of Washington-Baltimore Metropolitan Area’s most engaged contractors. The company offers full-service general contracting and is popular among embassies, corporations, and churches. The firm has won several awards in construction projects over the years and has been featured in Northern Virginia Magazine, Architecture DC, American Builders Quarterly, and Construction Today among other publications.
Monarc has many fascinating projects in its portfolio, including the restoration project in the main terminal of the Washington National Airport, the Links Foundation Headquarters, and Stanford University’s Washington campus. But nothing quite compares to their restoration work St. John’s Church—the ‘President’s church— in Lafayette Square, not far from the White House. One of America’s most historic churches, it was established in 1816. Monarc garnered the ABC Award of Excellence for their sensitive approach to this historically important project.
1) DonahueFavret Contractors
3030 East Causeway Approach , Mandeville, LA 70448
DonahueFavret Contractors is a commercial general contractor that has been in operation since 1979. It is currently led by John Donahue, son of the founder and the chairman of the board, Jack Donahue. The firm operates in New Orleans, Louisiana, and across the Gulf South. The firm has won an impressive 19 national awards and has a number of certifications to its credit. The awards include multiple National Awards of Merit as well as National Excellence in Construction Awards from ABC and Best Projects Awards by ENR. The firm is also hailed by ENR as one of the nation’s Best of the Best.
In the church-building industry, DonahueFavret has won two Worship Facility Magazine’s Solomon Awards in 2018. The firm has been hailed as the Best Contractor by the group with its service to the First Baptist Church in Covington. This $43 million project includes 180,000-square-feet of space distributed across a three-building extension. The size of the church alone is a testament to DonahueFavret’s capacity; its ability to realize the complex design provided by HH Architects makes the firm stand out.
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