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St. Irene Church is sited to complement the campus-like atmosphere of the existing facilities and grounds. The brick-clad structure conveys a welcoming character appropriate for a place of worship. The building program included a Eucharistic Hall, Daily Liturgy Chapel, Reconciliation Chapel, Gathering Space, Sacristy, and Music Room. The fan-shaped Eucharistic Hall features seating that wraps around the altar platform thus fostering a sense of community and closeness for the congregation. Two exposed steel trusses support a central light monitor which introduces abundant daylight into the main worship space. The gathering space features stained glass windows relocated from the previous church building and a two-level marble baptistry. A “Season’s of the Church” tapestry forms an appropriate backdrop for the main altar. The ecclesiastical furniture was designed to complement the architectural design.

The Chicago Culture Center is a Buddhist Temple and midwest headquarters for Soka Gakkai International, the largest religious organization in Japan. The $3.6 million Culture Center includes 600, 150, and 50-seat auditoriums, exhibition gallery, executive offices, training rooms, and a bookstore. Siting of the center continues the Chicago tradition of major buildings terminating streets. The main lobby is centered on the axis of 14th Place at Wabash Avenue. Building forms are drawn from Chicago architectural traditions. Major materials and building systems were researched and value engineered to provide a durable and cost-effective solution, while meeting the client’s stringent functional criteria. The compact dense massing of the building was determined to provide a cost-effective approach early in the design process. The design was broken down into primary shapes that reflected the internal functional arrangement and yielded an appealing scale to an otherwise large building.

“Our religious organization selected the firm of Harding Partners as architects for our new Chicago Culture Center based on their experience in similar projects and interest in creating attractive and usable worship and assembly spaces. Paul Harding remained committed and involved through all phases of the project, exercising great care so that we would be fully satisfied with the building. The finished building has become the keystone of the redeveloped Wabash corridor, uniting Dearborn Park and Central Station. We are very happy with the building and with the role of Harding Partners in its realization.”
— Guy C. McClosky, Vice President Soka Gakkai International – USA

Design intentions for New Hope Missionary Baptist Church are rooted in African American culture and history. The design is derived from vernacular “Spirit Houses” in South Carolina and Georgia, where slaves gathered for liturgical celebration and expression. These humble churches were simple, white-washed, wood-framed structures with unadorned interiors. New Hope Missionary Baptist Church seeks to recognize African American heritage by building upon the typology of the “Spirit House.” Natural light, symbolic of God’s enlightenment, permeates the worship space and creates an ever-changing tapestry for worship and cultural celebration. Major program components of the 9,400 sf church include a 300-seat sanctuary, a gathering space/multi-purpose hall, a library, classrooms, and offices. The brick-clad, wood-framed structure was value-engineered to a cost of $138 per sf to meet the client’s limited budget. Simple and straightforward construction technology was utilized for economy and to reflect the origins of African American religious architecture in this country.