Design Group Services
GEM Design Group offers help in thinking strategically about present and future needs, building consultation and design services to qualifying ministries across Greater Europe.
Thinking strategically...
It is important to look at built facilities both in terms of current needs and future needs, as well as the opportunities that these needs provide. Our staff discusses your ministry and its facilities in depth and helps you determine the best course of action.
Often the most obvious solution is not the best one and thinking of alternatives is difficult for the people who serve in the ministry every day.
Our experience with projects for Christian ministries throughout Greater Europe gives us insights into the best ways to proceed, in order to best meet your needs, both now and in the future.
Architectural design
Our staff has training and experience in the area of architectural design from both the United States and Europe and GEM design Group has worked with ministries in 16 countries.
The services provided include the design of new buildings as well as renovations and additions to existing buildings.
Working with the client team to achieve the best possible result is a major priority of GEM Design Group.
Other building design professions
While other building design disciplines are not represented in the full-time Design Group staff, we are able to call on experienced professionals in these areas who serve as voluntary assistants, donating their time and knowledge as needed.
The work of these outside consultants is coordinated by GEM Design Group in order to simplify the process. If a need arises that cannot be met at the time, the ministry being assisted can decide whether to wait until someone is available or else proceed with hiring a paid consultant.
Consultation
The services that GEM Design Group offers also include assistance in the selection and purchase of a building or land. The suitability of land plays a large role in the future success of the activities that take place there and many factors must be examined. GEM Design Group can help with this.
Costs
A standard fee of €300 is charged for these services. If the ministry that is being helped wants help with building design, then it is asked to partner with us by supplying transportation costs for our staff for travel to and from the project site and providing room and board for an initial investigative trip. One or two members of GEM Design Group staff travel to the project location to meet with representatives of the ministry and discuss the needs, goals, and desires. A typical site visit last from four to five days.
While we know that some clients would like us to offer our design services without coming to the site, we ask that they understand that this is not possible. It is essential in order to provide the best possible services that we see the site in person and this also gives us the ability to discuss design ideas in person while there.
These costs can be shared if there is another ministry site in the area that requests Design Group services.
In addition, during the progress of the work, the ministry receiving assistance is asked to cover typical office expenses, such as office supplies used for the project, phone calls, faxes, photocopies, and other items related to the project.
All of our staff receive the funds to cover their office and living expenses from volunteer donors who contribute to these needs. This is why we are not able to cover the cost of expenses related to the projects we work on.
Frequently Asked Questions
GEM Design Group provides building design and related services, including architectural design, interior design, structural design, landscape design and mechanical design.
Architectural design services and coordination with the other services are provide by Design Group staff and the other services are performed by outside volunteer professionals, as they are able.
In addition to design services, GEM Design Group provides drawings and documents for government approvals and for construction. GEM Design Group staff also creates presentation drawings of design proposals, three dimensional models, and computer generated videos for use in fund-raising and approvals.
No, GEM Design Group also does work related to additions and renovations of existing buildings. In addition, we provide consultation services to assist in evaluating the purchase of land and/or buildings.
All of our services are provided with a standard fee of €300. There are no additional fees after this. We do, however, require that one or two members of our staff travel to see all new projects to determine whether we can take on the project and to meet with the persons responsible. We ask that the ministry requesting our assistance cover the cost of the travel as well as food and lodging.
We also ask that the ministry pay expenses incurred during the work on the project, such as telephone calls, photocopies and postage, any additional travel to the project site, etc.
No, we are not able to provide funds or take on the task of raising funds. GEM Design Group is a part of Greater Europe Mission, a faith-based organization, meaning that none of our staff receives a salary and that all our staff receive donations for living and office expenses.
GEM Design Group can, however, prepare materials to be used for fund-raising, such as drawings, models, three-dimensional renderings, videos, etc.
Start by contacting GEM Design Group staff and requesting an application for our services.
Once this is received, a member of our staff will contact you to discuss the project and to arrange for the initial investigative trip.
The purpose of this trip is to see the project site, meet with the persons responsible and let them get to know our staff so both you and we are able to decide if we should move ahead together on the project.
Because our staff is not registered in every country we work in, we require the assistance of a local architect or engineer to take the project through the building permit process, where a building permit is required.
This person reviews the project to ensure that all building regulations are met and obtains the building permit. Our staff provides the necessary drawings in the local language.
If the services of a local architect or engineer are required, the ministry being helped is responsible for any costs associated with this.
Our design staff cannot be at the project site during the whole time construction takes place, but we can visit the project site occasionally when needed. The cost of these visits must be covered by the ministry being helped.