AWARD FOR RELIGIOUS ARCHITECTURE , NEW FACILITIES
Samuel J . Cadden Chapel : Clemson University Clemson , SC BOUDREAUX
Connected to nature and its campus surroundings , the Samuel J . Cadden Chapel uses natural materials and an expressive wood structure to create a welcoming space for celebration and remembrance . The chapel sits at a campus crossroads , and its design incorporates a strong vertical form and an airy interior , providing views of the surrounding landscape . The brick piers are structured internally by environmentally friendly , cross-laminated timber panels . Spanning east to west , the carefully detailed , glue-laminated structure supports the wood roof framing and ceiling planks , providing both warmth and rhythm . Mechanical systems are housed in the lower level and feed through the wood floor from below , keeping the structure above clean and open . Fire protection , lighting , window shades , and the projection screen are all integrated to be functional but unseen .
A soaring yet intimate space , the chapel seats 120 . It is intended first for students to use for faith-based and cultural events . It also serves the community and larger Clemson family , who can reserve the chapel for weddings or memorials . Its character matches the Clemson campus in the color of its brick , rigor of its design , and richness of its detailing , yet it is unique in the emotions it evokes .
JURY COMMENTS : This is a wonderful project with an obvious debt to the religious architecture of E . Fay Jones . The chapel is very well sited on the campus . It is an inspiring , authentic space for interfaith . Its height and light are magnificent and celebratory . It is a beacon for the campus .
Brad Feinknopf
AWARD FOR RELIGIOUS ARCHITECTURE , NEW FACILITIES
Countryside Community Church Omaha , NE HGA and Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture
Countryside Community Church members imagined their new Omaha facility as a place for worship , education , day care , music , fellowship , and community outreach . The 65,000-square-foot church embodies Countryside ’ s values as a highly social , egalitarian , Christ-centered group that professes equity , tolerance , environmental stewardship , and global engagement . The congregation chose to join the Tri- Faith Initiative and build their church as the third worship space on a shared site together with a mosque and a temple — the first such arrangement in the country .
In the church sanctuary , cedar planks are custom-designed to reflect , diffuse , or absorb sound . Curving pews follow the gently sloping floor over an air system , delivering comfort directly to parishioners . The semicircular altar area , 14 inches lower than the entrances , surrounds the pastor with the congregation . The mix of materials — handmade terra-cotta tiles , cedar planks , slate floor , and raw steel and heavy timber liturgical elements — reflects natural beauty .
Sustainable strategies include geothermal , solar-ready roof construction for photovoltaic panels ; an energy-efficient , in-floor air system for the sanctuary ; and an airtight , highly insulated wall system . This new facility advances Countryside ’ s conviction that people of different beliefs can get along , thrive together , and make an impact in their community and the world .
JURY COMMENTS : This church is part of an innovative Abrahamic faiths campus of houses of worship linked with the landscape . Inside the church , the seating is conducive of community , and the sanctuary is highly accessible . There is a great consistency of quality between interior and exterior .
Corey Gaffer Photography
24 SACRED PLACES • SUMMER 2023