The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange has two retained architectural firms, Johnson Fain (with a focus on the Cathedral building itself) and Rios Clementi Hale Studios (with a focus on the exterior spaces), to create a design plan that addresses the complex needs of the 1.3-million-member diocese and the day-to-day needs of a more than 10,000-member Cathedral parish.
In addition to addressing these pressing needs, the design committee was tasked to develop a multifaceted plan that not only addressed the complex design requirements of transforming the Christ Cathedral into a space that is both liturgically and intrinsically Catholic, but also addresses a variety of intricate engineering challenges to bring the building and its grounds to the cutting-edge with regard to technology and site usability.
Within the interior of the cathedral the design ethic conserves and revitalizes the excellent and inspirational architecture that exists while transforming the space into one that supports the liturgical aspects of the Catholic faith and the centrality of the Eucharist.
The exterior design of the site works to create a structure and theme commensurate with the dynamism and beauty of the existing structures. This new landscape and the new spaces that will be created honor the history of the site, its architecture, and its worshippers while also enabling its renewed life as a Roman Catholic cathedral.
The design reinforces the liturgical importance of the cathedral building in relation to the adjacent buildings and welcomes pilgrims into an experience of faith as they enter the campus and cathedral.
PEDALS OF LIGHT
The design team confronted several dynamic challenges throughout this process unique to creating a Catholic cathedral that supports a solemn and prayerful experience from an existing structure. Given the glass façade of the cathedral, heat transfer, excess light, and acoustics presented a significant challenge. To address this, the design team developed an innovative treatment to be installed on the ceiling of the cathedral. The proposed treatment will be composed of a series of four rigid "petals" that cover each of the more than 10,000 panes of glass, opening between 15 and 45 degrees.
These petals will not only control light and heat transfer, but will assist with the acoustic properties of the space. The placement and aperture of the petals was a result of analyzing the sun's path of travel across the building's façade, an analysis of existing acoustic reverberation times and a careful study of how new lighting can be coordinated to cover the large and tall volume.
Additionally, the placement of the altar, the center point of the Catholic Mass, presented a challenge given the nearly one million cubic feet of space and the visually arresting Hazel Wright Organ, the fourth largest within a Church in the world. The liturgical experts and design team addressed this issue by drawing inspiration from the historical tradition of the Church. One of the oldest forms of a Catholic Church is an antiphonal layout, with the altar at the center of the space, with congregants on either side. This layout and altar placement allows for the maximum use of the space while ensuring the altar is truly the center point of focus within the cathedral.
This ambitious project has been divided into two phases of work: phase one will address itself to the worship level of the cathedral, major infrastructure elements, the cathedral courtyard and a reflection garden that will house the existing campus statuary and beautiful replicas of the more than 1800 "Walk of Faith" stones currently throughout the campus. Phase two will include an expansion of the Cathedral Memorial Gardens Cemetery, the undercroft, or lower level of the cathedral, and the remainder of the Master Plan for the campus grounds.
There is a $29 million allocation from the $100 million For Christ Forever capital campaign to support phase one of this project. Additional funding is being raised for this development plan through a long-planned "leadership gift" phase of the capital campaign.
HISTORY OF CHRIST CATHEDRAL
In the late 1970s, legendary American architect Philip Johnson and his partner John Burgee presented their designs for an "all-glass church" to Reverend Robert Schuller. Upon seeing the plans, Reverend Schuller exclaimed, "Wow, it looks like a crystal cathedral!" The building was a massive undertaking, taking over two years to complete. Standing 120 feet tall (12 stories), 141 feet long and 207 feet wide, this 78,397-square-foot edifice is constructed entirely of glass and steel.
With more than 10,000 panes of mirrored glass, the cathedral structure is known the world over for its inspiring beauty and breathtaking scale. The main sanctuary seats more than 2,000 people and will become a spiritual home to Orange County's more than 1.3 million Catholics. The cathedral has closed for an extensive renovation to remake the space as a place of Catholic worship and will reopen after its formal dedication in 2017.
Related Stories
| Apr 19, 2013
Is LED lighting keeping its promises?
Lighting experts debate the benefits, drawbacks, and issues related to specifying LED fixtures.
| Apr 19, 2013
Must see: Shell of gutted church on stilts, 40 feet off the ground
Construction crews are going to extremes to save the ornate brick façade of the Provo (Utah) Tabernacle temple, which was ravaged by a fire in December 2010.
| Apr 18, 2013
Survey seeks info from managers of high-tech facilities
The International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL), and Laney College in Oakland California, a National Science Foundation-funded Building Efficiency for a Sustainable Tomorrow (BEST) Center, are collaborating to identify education and training needs and strategies for high-tech facility operators.
| Apr 18, 2013
SOM, CASE team up to launch crowd-sourced apps library
SOM and CASE have formally launched AEC-APPS, the first crowd-sourced, web-based library for applications used by architects, engineers and construction professionals. This is a one-of-a-kind initiative in the AEC Industry and is a non-profit online community that allows digital tool users and toolmakers to share ideas, tips and resources.
| Apr 18, 2013
Calatrava projects encounter issues with water, structure, Guardian says
A dozen years after Calatrava built the spectacular Ysios winery in the rainy Alava region of northern Spain, the building's dramatic, undulating roof continues to let in the damp.
| Apr 17, 2013
Frank Lloyd Wright's Park Avenue showroom demolished
New York loses another architectural gem by Frank Lloyd Wright as new owner razes auto showroom.
| Apr 17, 2013
First look: Renzo Piano's glass-domed motion pictures museum
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences last week released preliminary plans for its $300 million Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences museum in Los Angeles, designed by Renzo Piano and local architect Zoltan Pali.
| Apr 16, 2013
5 projects that profited from insulated metal panels
From an orchid-shaped visitor center to California’s largest public works project, each of these projects benefited from IMP technology.
| Apr 16, 2013
AIA/NCARB survey shows rosier picture for emerging professionals
In 2010, the AIA/NCARB Internship and Career Survey of emerging professionals took a snapshot of young designers during a time ofintense economic contraction, when they were often the first to suffer. But in the two years since, emerging professionals have begun experiencing a rebound.
| Apr 15, 2013
Seattle school certified as world's fourth Living Building
Bertschi School, an independent elementary school in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Wash., is now home to the first Living Building on the West Coast and the world’s fourth fully-certified Living Building.