This terminal studio entitled ‘Domus Dei’ was based on a large half-block site in downtown Eugene, Oregon. The assignments only requirements were for students to select a religion and design a worship space and associated programming of their choosing. I chose to design a Catholic cathedral with flexible community event and service spaces.

Additional programming was based on developing a project that was able to support the community as a whole through charitable efforts and outreach in part by creating rentable indoor and outdoor spaces for functions such as weddings, banquets and farmers markets. To fulfill this mission, the site includes kindergarten classrooms, an event hall, offices and meeting spaces. These elements wrap a large open plaza lined with trees and at the midpoint, pavers give way to grass that flows down a gentle slope providing outdoor space for children and larger events. An infinity edge reflecting pond sits directly behind the cathedral’s apse, creating dramatic reflections of the metallic facade and splashing into a surrounding basin creating white noise to muffle the traffic beyond. The site has three entry points on all public faces, welcoming the public to pass through to enjoy this urban park and plaza. The east site entry passes below large bells recessed into a niche above.