SHOWCASE7
A Place Apart
University of North Florida - Interfaith Chapel GRESHA M, SMITH AND PA RTNER S
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA - INTERFAITH CHAPEL
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he University of North Florida (UNF) is a nationally recognized institution of higher education in Jacksonville, nestled in nearly 1,400 acres of nature and wildlife. More than 16,000 students attend the state university, which has been recognized by both the Princeton Review and Forbes magazine as one of America’s best. To honor the religious and spiritual diversity of the student body, UNF administration solicited design proposals— as part of an open, architectural design competition—for a 6,500-square-foot, 250-seat chapel that would be used for interdenominational services as well as small events such as chamber music concerts, weddings and conferences. Central to the client’s goals was that the chapel should embrace its natural surroundings and create a distinct sense of place. GS&P’s design proposal created a contemplative refuge that honored UNF’s deep-rooted culture of environmental stewardship and sustainability. “We are most well-known in Jacksonville for our healthcare and corporate architecture practice, but we wanted to demonstrate to UNF what an excellent and diversified design firm we are,” says GS&P principal Leith Oatman. “This chapel was truly a gem of a project that allowed us to present a very elegant solution.”
UNF is committed to protecting the campus’ natural, wooded environment. The design of the chapel embraces the client’s wish by complementing its surroundings.
HARMONY IN
SPACE & TIME UNF’s natural, wooded campus stands in contrast to Jacksonville’s growing urban sprawl. Even after several decades of expansion, the university remains committed to protecting hundreds of acres of nature and wildlife. GS&P took a multifaceted approach to translating the project’s goals into a strong design response, drawing upon the natural attributes of the landscape, the caliber of UNF’s architecture, and a campus culture of environmental sustainability. “The challenge was balancing a series of provided parameters to address those attributes simultaneously,” says GS&P senior designer Jim Kolb. “We were tasked with creating a structure that looked like a chapel but wasn’t overtly religious, and that embraced the natural environment yet was on par with UNF’s contemporary architecture, all the while not disturbing protected wetlands. “The preservation of UNF’s wetlands is not only protected by law but is supported by the entire university. So it was central to the client’s vision that the new facility complement and embrace its surrounding natural space.” The chosen site for the future chapel is a wooded peninsula by a small lake beyond the southern perimeter of campus. GS&P designated a new entry point from the main road with a
tree-covered drive that curves around the wetlands and ends with an entry circle in front of the chapel. The existing parking field was also redesigned to double the number of planted trees, reducing the heat island effect. The re-envisioned entry transforms the current site and sets the tone for the proposed experience. The landscape design surrounding the chapel features bioswales of indigenous ferns to filter, slow and redirect stormwater while also creating a natural separation between the parking area and the facility. “When developers introduce foliage that isn’t indigenous, then the area has to be watered, fertilized, weeded, mulched and otherwise maintained,” adds Oatman. “Jim’s solution was to keep it as natural as possible, so it melds into the preserved areas.” A walking bridge reaches from the cirLeith Oatman, cular entry drive to the PRINCIPAL-IN-CHARGE front of the chapel, and a secondary extension of the facility runs southwest from the main hall to house administrative offices, restrooms, a catering area and storage. The flow of the bioswale passes below the entrance bridge and under parts of the support-services
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...it melds into the preserved areas.
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building, reinforcing the feel of a place that’s both in harmony with and set apart from its locale. “UNF’s campus has a series of nature trails so students can enjoy the preserve. Our design includes a meditative walking path around the lake, with a bridge directly across the lake from the chapel to allow an unimpeded view back to the building,” says Oatman. The celebration of the peninsula’s natural beauty continues within the sanctuary through panoramic vistas
across the lake and the woods, while forms in the fenestration and the soaring arch of the sanctuary mimic the form of the lush tree canopy. Though the chapel’s finished floor is elevated above the flood plain, an outside terrace on the north side of the building steps down to the water’s edge, connecting the structure to the lake. The dropped terrace also preserves vistas of the lake from inside the main hall. The sanctuary space has a simple layout with no fixed furnishings to
The building is oriented on an east-west axis to capture sunrise and sunset, and the chapel’s vaulted ceiling creates a voluminous sense of space.
Meditative walking paths surround the lake.
A walking bridge connects the entry circle and building.
Bioswales of indigenous ferns filter and slow stormwater while providing natural separation between parking and the facility.
The chosen site for the future chapel is a wooded peninsula by a small lake beyond the southern perimeter of campus.
The celebration of the peninsula’s natural beauty
continues within the sanctuary through PANORAMIC VISTAS across the lake and the woods, while forms in the fenestration and the SOARING ARCH of the sanctuary mimic the form of the
LUSH TREE CANOPY. allow different configurations for the various functions. The interior features cast-in-place concrete with exposed form ties, and stranded bamboo floors and ceilings with laminated trusses. While embracing contemporary materials, GS&P’s design echoes traditional forms. The building is oriented on an east-west axis to capture sunrise and sunset, and the chapel’s vaulted ceiling creates a voluminous sense of space.
“Classic cathedrals and similar institutions were positioned on that axis in reference to the sun. The eastwest orientation floods the space with light,” explains Kolb. “The vertical volume with its peaked roof is also a traditional form. To respect those visitors without any religious affiliations, we consciously stripped the building of any iconography to keep it neutral.”
A CULTURE OF SUSTAINABILITY
The university’s ecological stewardvistas of the natural surroundings, “Maximizing the building’s ability ship extends beyond the nature prebut could result in significant heat to cool naturally is about rememserve and into the structures poised gain. To address the solar load, GS&P bering systems used a long time on campus highlands. Eight years incorporated electrochromic glass, ago; strategies that evolved before ago, UNF’s social sciences building which reduces energy transmission mechanical ventilation was ever became the first facility in northeast available,” explains Kolb. “In using when energized. Florida to be LEED certified and was “The solar tinting turns the smart passive ventilation systems, we can the first of five green buildings now glass to dark blue, and when the gain take advantage of the cooler times of and glare aren’t an issue, the glazing the year when natural ventilation is on campus. “The UNF campus has been evolvreturns to clear,” says Kolb. “You a viable option.” ing, with a large number of new and can create stained glass patterns by GS&P also worked with a significant buildings constructed mechanical engineer to mitigate programming the electric charge to over the past 15 years,” says Oatman. the visual exposure of the heating various sections and panes.” “The architectural choices have been Passive ventilation concepts and cooling systems. transformative and forward-thinkwould also add to the building’s ability “When you have such a beautiful, ing. The student union, natural-looking building for example, was ranked with light, lacy trusses, the Maximizing the building’s fourth out of the top 100 last thing you want is to see ability to cool naturally is buildings in the state by the big ducts running through Florida AIA and is LEED it,” says Oatman. about remembering systems In the proposed design, Gold certified.” used a long time ago; In keeping with this ductwork for mechanical spirit of sustainability, ventilation runs below strategies that evolved before GS&P was committed to the floor and then rises mechanical ventilation was using natural materials, up to the diffusers in the including concrete and column faces. Placing the ever available. steel with high recycled ducts in cooler areas below content and wood certified the floor shields them from Jim Kolb, PROJECT DESIGNER by the Forest Stewardship additional outside heat to Council, while also preserving and to regulate the indoor climate during increase energy efficiency. restoring the worksite during and more temperate times of the year. One of the primary challenges after construction. The design called for a ventilated roof the GS&P team faced was crafting “The chapel wasn’t required to skin that would diffuse high surface a design that would also adhere to be LEED certified, but attention to the budget specified in the design temperatures by venting energy out sustainable design concepts is a sigcompetition package. of the system, reducing the demand nificant criteria of the university,” on insulation and rendering it more “We conducted a great deal of says Oatman. “We were intentional efficient for the building’s interior. research to estimate the sustainable about demonstrating excellent enviWhile heat that rises inside the buildconcepts and reconcile our ideas with ronmental stewardship and incorpoing can be exhausted through the budget limitations,” says Oatman. “I rating the most current technologies thermostatic-controlled damper at was very proud of how responsible available, such as the smart glass in the peak of the roof, cooler air is our team was in respecting the buddrawn in at the bottom though large, get criteria.” the fenestration.” Extensive glazing on the east and operable casement windows in the west sides of the chapel maximized chapel’s side walls.
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To address solar load, GS&P incorporated electrochromic glass, which reduces energy transmission when energized. Depending on the time of day, solar gain and glare turns the smart glass from clear to dark blue.
Large casement windows in the side walls and a ventilated roof skin cool the space naturally when ambient conditions allow.
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It’s more than a structure—
IT’S AN EXPERIENCE. Leith Oatman, PRINCIPAL-IN-CHARGE
CREATING
A SENSE
OF PLACE
GS&P’s inspiring chapel concept provides a center for celebration and community as well as a contemplative refuge for visitors. Each person who visits can enter and experience the facility from his or her own point of spiritual reference. “It’s more than a structure—it’s an experience,” says Oatman. “Our team truly went above and beyond the competition requirements to present unique design concepts that balance elegance and environmental responsibility.” “When people think of architecture, they tend to think of walls, ceilings and floors— but we’re creating a positive sense of place,” says Kolb. “Regardless of denomination, religion or lack thereof, this sanctuary design is calm, restful, nurturing and supportive. This building would be a nice addition to the landscape, rather than one that degrades the environment—an uplifting experience for those who enter.”▪
PROJECT DETAILS CLIENT
SIZE
University of North Florida
6,500 Square Feet
LOCATION
TEAM
Jacksonville, Florida
PIC, PM Leith A. Oatman, LEED AP PD James R. Kolb, AIA, LEED AP
MARKET
Corporate + Urban Design SERVICES
Architecture Landscape Design Sustainable Design
PC Jenna Lychako ID Stephanie D. Irwin, LEED ID+C
ARCHITECTURE
ENGINEERING
INTERIORS
PLANNING
www.greshamsmith.com/showcase