The new chapel for the Diocese of Charleston’s Pastoral Center blends traditional and modern forms to create a light-filled, tranquil sanctuary. Integrated in its marshland landscape, the chapel takes full advantage of its coastal site. The composition reinterprets the traditional basilica form with soaring proportions and legible vertical elements to draw the eye upwards. Inside the sanctuary, generously-sized windows frame views of the landscape while allowing multi-directional light to animate the space.

The campus, which fits snugly beneath canopies of oak trees, also includes a chapel and meeting hall. The design takes advantage of the site’s spectacular views of the City of Charleston from the banks of the Ashley River. The buildings were oriented to achieve maximum energy conservation while maintaining natural light and views for every office.

The exterior of the buildings features materials representing the entire state of South Carolina with brick from the Midlands, stone from the Upstate, and siding from the Lowcountry.