Design: Moriyama & Teshima Architects

Image Credits: Tom Arban Photography

The design of this Prayer Hall combines two existing, triangular-shaped stepped lecture halls into a new, single level, symmetrical, east oriented room for two hundred worshippers. The space is spiritually evocative and uses light and material to accommodate those faiths that worship iconographically and those that worship iconoclastically.

The expression of light is the distinguishing feature of the space. Framed in Venetian Plaster is 80 square meters of glowing, back lit ceiling and front wall. The onyx is panelized using sacred numerology and geometries to create a ceiling mosaic that subtly references the religious structure of all faiths. The gesture is minimal with a custom support ceiling system and hidden alcoves on the front wall which, when open, reveal the icons of four of the most active faith groups on campus.