Wellesley College Multi-Faith Center and Houghton Memorial Chapel
22 January 2009 | Educational, Projects
Exterior of the Houghton Memorial Chapel, originally built in 1899
Photos © Halkin Photography LLC
How do we find the means to transform and translate the religious and spiritual life of Wellesley College along a multi-faith paradigm?
In 2006 we were asked to reprogram approximately 10,000 feet of space in the lower level of the Houghton Memorial Chapel which has, for over 100 years, provided a space for religious, spiritual, musical, academic and community life on the campus.
Renovations addressed accessibility, lighting and sound systems and numerous deferred maintenance concerns. In addition, we wanted to give religious and spiritual groups equal representation with a prayer room, a study room and meditation room all in equal proximity to a larger, central multi-faith worship hall. These rooms have access to the fellowship room, allowing for informal and communal gatherings in a space adjacent to a kitchen. Continuity is maintained from the main chapel to the three lower level prayer rooms through material choices to reinforce a relationship between all spaces.
The project was completed in May 2008 and dedicated in October 2008. The photos below illustrate the programmatic, spatial and material transformation of the space for the students of Wellesley.
The elevator in the narthex is clad in kasota stone with bronze letters and an oil-rubbed bronze handrail.
The walls of the worship room are resin embedded with linen which create a glowing atmosphere.
Interior of the worship room.
Circulation and configuration of space allows for cross-pollination in a pluralistic community. Details include mesquite wood block floors and existing masonry left exposed.
At the main entrance, a water feature crafted out of custom fabricated polished concrete stands as a sacred element universal to all faiths.
The exposed existing walls of the meditation room were maintained and window shafts were opened.
To make the center ADA accessible, a ramp was installed in the chapel, an on-grade entry ramp was added to provide direct entry to the lower level rooms and all staircases were made code compliant.
The fellowship room, adjacent to the worship room, allows for formal and informal gatherings.
The paint and parging was removed to expose existing walls in the prayer room. An area for ablutions was inserted.
