With Focus on helping those who may be new to Columbarium Construction.

Getting started on a new Columbarium project? 

These few Items might help you.

Think about Location:

o        One thought for consideration would be location and what space you envision for your project. Interior, exterior? If it is exterior, are there any property lines or setbacks established by your town that may limit available space for locating your structure.

o        Are there any building or zoning requirements that would limit or restrict placement of columbaria? Are there any other legal issues that might need to be addressed like wetlands, steep slopes, drainage requirements or easements?   Do you have a location in mind?

How many & Why?

o        You might consider long term evaluations like how many projected niches would be appropriate to serve your needs?

o        It would be good to clarify what your objective is for building the niches. There are many great reasons that come to mind like providing for parishioners or alumni needs where currently there are no provisions available. Other examples could be investing in future needs by allocating a certain amount of space for your project and then have that space provide an exceptional ROI or financial return over the years by sale of niches. There are so many positive aspects with most important likely to be providing a secret and special place for our loved ones to rest.  Do you have a quantity on niches in mind to service your needs?

The “What” & “How Much”?

o        With that last thought in mind, it would be most important to plan the space, the location, the layout and access appropriately using high quality, durable finishes and design details that will be visually pleasing and provide for a welcome gathering place for years to come. 

o        Based on your projected niche count, the above design process is where we can be of great help. Based on your proposed location and any other thoughts or program requirements you may envision, we can help with the conceptual design process and create a preliminary working budget so you can make better informed decisions pertaining to your investment and your considerations moving forward.

o        Completion of that first step would allow you to have a solid financial understanding of where your project could go from a cost perspective and help you plan on how those resources would be secured.   Do you have a budget?

Before you get started.

o        With initial conversations, it is productive to hear thoughts about location, niche count, and financial goals. (Clarity then can be confirmed as to whether there will be allocations required for additional permitting or more importantly to confirm that the project is viable from a legal perspective). Are there any restrictions or ordinances that might make design time wasted if that proposed space is unavailable for use or restricted in some other fashion.      Is your location viable?

What to expect from us.

o        By example, we can help you envision your project and allocate preliminary projected cost for work. We can generate a budgeted price per niche based on your overall concepts or using plans that may already be established. Keep in mind that the cost of a manufactured niche from the supplier does not include any other infrastructure or finishing work. This is really important to understand and it is certainly one area where you may have more control over spending with regard to finish selections, landscaping, etc.   Do you have a concept and plan already?

If you would like to discuss more about what we can do for you, give me a call or schedule a meeting online. We would love to hear your goals and aspirations for building that beautiful columbarium project!  - Bill Kelly