BE INSPIRED
Soar to the next level with our spiritually-enriching process
BUILD WITH PERSONALITY
Bring your vision to life
EXPERIENCE EXCELLENCE
Enjoy project results that exceed your expectations
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CHURCH EXPERTISE
Partnering to create purpose-driven churches with personality
A great joy in the life of any church is witnessing the growth of its ministry. Growth unlocks exciting opportunities. It can also present perplexing challenges, such as a need for more space. At Jeffrey Parker Architects, we guide you through the church building process – both architecturally and financially. From simply getting you started all the way through celebrating your building dedication, we make it happen.
We work closely with you to create attractive, cost-effective buildings that radiate and reinforce church ministries. Combined with church staffing and programs, properly-designed buildings will 1) enhance ministry opportunities for existing congregations, and 2) create visitor-friendly space that helps attract newcomers. Our design philosophy also emphasizes collaboration – with the building committee, lay leaders, church board and even the congregation. This broad-based involvement translates into overwhelming congregational support, ownership and unity.
Our design process relies on getting to know you, your congregation and your ministries. We typically help manage the entire building program, with you as an active participant. As “process managers”, we coordinate the efforts of the capital gifts consultant, lending agency, construction manager, building inspector, technology consultant and furnishings vendor. We also help organize and manage the site plan approval process. As a result, our church building projects flow effortlessly, church staffs stay focused on ministry and the process becomes an exciting, spiritual experience.
We envision what could be, challenge the status quo and balance short-term needs with a long-term perspective. This mindset drives our entire church master planning process. As a result, our church campus and facility master plans provide clearly-defined, purpose-driven, all-encompassing roadmaps for congregations to follow. They also help ensure that buildings can be inexpensively and seamlessly added onto, and that property is skillfully and efficiently utilized. And by being pieced into multiple phases (based on affordability, needs and attendance), these long-range plans are highly achievable.
We specialize in churches. Our seasoned approach is especially suited for thriving churches that feel trapped in buildings that are either too small, dysfunctional or out-of-date. By working with various churches of different denominations and geographic areas, we help promote a cross-fertilization of new ideas and relevant trends. In turn, we creatively build new and/or expand existing church campuses to radiate and reinforce the personality of your ministry.
COMMERCIAL EXPERTISE
Our passion is creating great public spaces of all kinds
We thrive on creating spaces that are lively, secure and distinct in character, from restaurants and retail centers to office buildings, schools and churches. And we believe that buildings succeed when: 1) company needs are carefully balanced with costs and; 2) owners and stakeholders are empowered to make well-informed decisions. This mindset, together with our expertise in design and construction, our proactive management of the building process and our extensive track record, has helped build our company and its reputation.
Our commercial work is intentionally diverse. This allows us to infuse projects with a fresh creativity, as design ideas cross the boundaries between various project types. And as a result, nothing can become repetitive or stale.
We help orchestrate the entire building process, by coordinating the efforts of the lending agency, construction manager, building inspector, and furnishings and equipment vendors. We also help organize and manage the entire site plan approval process. As a result, our projects flow together effortlessly and our clients stay more focused on their businesses – which provide them with great benchmark experiences.
Working together with our clients and select construction managers, we strive to balance each project’s size (which is often determined by business needs), cost and quality (of details and materials). This has helped build our reputation of exceeding client expectations.
Our team goes to the extreme to showcase both the quality and value of our services. And that includes everything that’s necessary to do a project and do it well.
- Site Selection
- Process Management
- Facility and Site Master Planning
- On-Site Field Verification
- Needs Analysis and Programming
- Space Planning and Design
- Branding
- Code Compliance Review
- Architecture and Engineering
- Technology and Financial Planning
- Interior Design
- Site Plan Approval
- Permitting
- Bidding Assistance
- Construction Administration
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JEFFREY PARKER
Jeff graduated with a Master's of Architecture from the University of Michigan. He is licensed to practice in 19 states and has accumulated over 30 years of experience. Under his guidance, Jeffrey Parker Architects has built its reputation by creating purpose-driven, culturally-relevant and financially-responsible facilities. He enjoys bringing creativity and insights to projects, big picture visioning and developing step-by-step action plans. He is married, has two daughters and enjoys coffee, the Detroit Tigers and getting away for long weekends in big cities.
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WAYNE BICKEL
Wayne is a Licensed Architect with 26 of years of experience in all phases of design, from master planning through design development, construction documents and construction administration. His career has primarily focused on religious work with the last 16 years at Jeffrey Parker Architects. His emphasis with each project is working as a team to meet client's goals and budget. Wayne enjoys traveling, golf, baseball and all things for his alma mater, University of Michigan – Go Blue!
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MELISSA OLIN
Melissa brought her 12 years of bookkeeping and office managing experience to Jeffrey Parker Architects as Administrative Assistant in May 2012. She is responsible for most of the day-to-day office functions and providing administrative support to the rest of the team. She really enjoys seeing the end result of projects, especially knowing all the expertise and passion that is conveyed in each individual one. Melissa resides with her husband in Lowell, Michigan. In her spare time she enjoys snowboarding, playing volleyball and spending time with her family.
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CHRISTINE PARKER
After earning a BSBA from Aquinas College and enjoying a long profession in marketing, training and finance management, along with many years of volunteer work, Christine retired from her full-time career and started her second career with Jeffrey Parker Architects as part-time marketing/business development manager. Her biggest thrill is listening to people and discussing how Jeffrey Parker Architects can help them make their visions a reality. Christine loves to spend time with her family, garden and travel.
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JIM RAMEY
Jim brings 20+ years of experience as a senior architect and project manager of an extensive variety of projects including multi-tenant retail, churches, mixed-use developments, offices, and hotels. Some of his most rewarding projects have been renovations or building conversions requiring unique and creative solutions. He earned his Master of Architecture degree from Lawrence Technological University and is a Licensed Architect in Michigan. In his free time, Jim enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, biking and camping.
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JUSTIN SPACKMAN
Justin joined Jeffrey Parker Architects soon after graduating from Judson University. As an architectural technician, he has worked on a wide variety of projects, including churches, restaurants, hotels and office buildings. In his spare time, he has participated in several design competitions, such as Michigan Industrial and Technology Education Society (MITES), American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), and Death By Architecture. He also enjoys drawing and building things. Justin and his wife, Renee, live in Otsego, Michigan.
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BRIAN WEELDREYER
Part of the team since 1992, Brian is the lead designer for projects ranging from master plans for large, multi-venue church campuses to building designs that uniquely reflect the personality and vibrancy of its occupants. He especially enjoys making a difference in people’s lives – through their workplaces and churches. He is a Licensed Architect and holds a Master's degree in architecture from the University of Michigan. Brian is a West Michigan native, and in his spare time, can often be found bicycling, enjoying water sports or skiing.