AWARD FOR RELIGIOUS ARCHITECTURE: NEW FACILITIES
TSG Foundation Center for Spiritual
Development GHC Orcutt | Winslow Scottsdale, AZ
Kyle Zirkus
The TSG Foundation Center for Spiritual Development is focused on a comprehensive spiritual educational program of life enhancement teachings that were written and designed by the internationally recognized scholar, philosopher, and author Torkom Saraydarian.
A meandering desert entry welcomes visitors and provides selective glimpses of the TSG Center. A bridge links the parking areas to the building by crossing a shallow wash, giving visitors a time for pause and reflection as they approach or leave the building.
The center is infused with a sense of mindfulness that leverages the natural environment by creating connections to the outdoors, axially rotated on the site to welcome the southern winter sunlight, northern views of the Carefree Mountains, and opportunities for nighttime star-viewing events.
Gita Saraydarian, inspired by her father’ s lifelong work, continues to lead the center and has established a worldwide audience as a creative educator for progressive ideas, transformation, and goodwill. The teaching lays the foundation for living a life of integrity and purpose and is a universal guide for humanity. At its core, the foundation seeks to
empower people to unfold their potential and transform their lives to increase happiness, joy, creativity, and abundance.
JURY COMMENTS: This project feels so respectful of its surroundings, so perfect for its desert site. It becomes a cloak for the building, which frames the site and the surroundings. The stepping ceiling is a nice detail.
HONOR AWARD FOR RELIGIOUS ARCHITECTURE: RESTORATION
San Joselito Adoration Chapel Canning Liturgical Arts Norwalk, CT
Canning Liturgical Arts was originally asked to offer technical design advice for the sanctuary area of the San Joselito Chapel, but on further discussion we offered our full design, fabrication, and installation services for the entire space. Over the course of a few months, our team and community volunteers worked on new designs and transformed the chapel. The chapel is located on the campus of St. Joseph’ s Church in Norwalk, Connecticut, and the space has seen more use by the local Hispanic community, necessitating more seating and beauty for the people it serves and the saint to whom it is dedicated.
The original all-white palette, intended to enlarge the space, was replaced with three major colors: a deep green, a rich dark red, and a vibrant blue. Variations of these colors appear throughout the interior in field colors and stencil patterns. Gold leafing and tones of yellow highlight the intricate details within the chapel as careful attention to detail ensured a harmonious space that balances English Gothic design with Spanish influence and incorporates motifs symbolic of the patron saint, San Joselito. The beautification of the simple chapel brought the surrounding community together.
Robert Benson
JURY COMMENTS: A stunning transformation, which is just beautiful. It invites you into worship— a place where spirituality happens. This is an example of how a lot can be done with a little.
SACRED PLACES • SUMMER 2025 21