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Lyle and Grace Prescott Memorial Prayer Chapel, Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU), San Diego, CA
The Lyle and Grace Prescott Memorial Prayer Chapel, designed for a private Christian university in San Diego, provides an intimate place for worship, reflection, and prayer. The project, designed by lead architect Gordon R. Carrier, FAIA, NCARB, was awarded a 2020 Architecture MasterPrize in the category of Small Architecture.
From the competition's perspective, importance is placed on the building’s entry sequence and the chapel’s form. As the Architecture MasterPrize website states: "The building’s tall concrete walls abstractly offer the image of arms reaching skyward, inviting heaven’s embrace.The corten entry portico is scaled to compress one’s experience on approach while expanding the experience after entry. Access to the space has one’s focus ascending toward the solitary 12’ high cross.The tall, linear interior volume is simply expressed in concrete, wood + glass detail."
Find a project video: https://vimeo.com/311304774
Firm Location: San Diego, United States
Company: Carrier Johnson + CULTURE
Lead Architect: Gordon R. Carrier, FAIA, NCARB
Design Team: Architect / Design: Carrier Johnson + CULTURE; Gordon R. Carrier, FAIA, NCARB' Design Principal Ray Varela; Design Principal Alex Gutierrez; Designer Nigel Glibbery
Construction Administration General Contractor: Bycor Structural; KPFF Electrical; ELEN Consulting Civil; Michael Baker International Landscape; Modern Zen Garden; Kohei Owatari + Asociates Lighting Designer; Syska Hennessey
Client: Point Loma Nazarene University Bob Brower, Ph.D; President Joe Watkins, Ph.D; Executive Vice President Bruce A. Kunkel, Associate Vice President for Campus Services and Sustainability
The Architecture MasterPrize (AMP) honors designs in the disciplines of architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture with the goal of advancing the appreciation of architecture worldwide.
Each submitted design was evaluated by an esteemed AMP Jury, and the best projects were selected across 42 categories.