Christ Cathedral
Location: Garden Grove, California
Client: Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange
The Catholic Diocese of Orange acquired the Crystal Cathedral property in Garden Grove and retained Johnson Fain to substantially convert the Cathedral building to a place of Catholic worship to be renamed Christ Cathedral. The building, originally designed by Philip Johnson and John Burgee in the late 1970s, is sited as the centerpiece of a religious campus which also features the architecture of Richard Neutra and Richard Meier. A diamond-shaped plan elongated from east to west, the cathedral is entered on the south at the Bishop’s Door with the Predella, Altar, Ambo and Cathedra located on axis against the north wall of the building. A custom-made platinum-leaf baldachin is suspended 30 feet above the altar in the 120 foot tall volume of the building.
In an attempt to address an array of technical challenges and to employ architectural tools to heighten the sense of space and spirituality, 6,000 translucent, triangular “petals” were inserted into the structural space frame in various degrees of openness and closure. The acoustical diffusion of sound was improved as was the ability to control glare and direct sunlight for greater comfort. In the darkness of evening, the petals allow reflected light to fill the sanctuary and create a glow within the cathedral spilling out to the exterior. The new floors and low sanctuary walls are finished in white and grey natural stones to represent the earth, as the upper glass walls and ceilings, now translucent with faceted petals, represent the heavens.
Services:
Full Architectural Services
Program:
Sanctuary (120 foot tall), Baptistry, Predella, Altar, Ambo, Cathedra, Baldachin with corpus, Refurbish Organ, New Environmental Controls including High-Performing second skin built within existing glass enclosure.
Site Area:
34 acres
Completion Date:
2019
Awards:
- AIA Orange County, Merit Award 2022
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