Refractions for Reflection: Illuminating a Prayer Chapel

Robert was captivated when Gordon R. Carrier, FAIA, of Carrier Johnson + CULTURE, the project’s design architect, showed him a small-scale 3D model of the space. The actual structure contains only 550 square feet, but Robert noted its “great bones and great design.” He recalls: “I was happy to contribute our time to the project, knowing how creative we could be with the lighting.”

In developing the design, Robert took cues from the architecture, which promotes serenity and yet connotes the power of prayer. He decided to illuminate the chapel through the architect’s creation of frosted clerestories and vertical light wells. Natural daylight filters gently through a filigree of mixed woods that ascends to evoke Christ’s spirit and his crown of thorns. Daylight also penetrates through three personal prayer niches, each of which is equipped with a small, 1-inch LED spotlight to emphasize form and texture.

Additional lighting is low and soft to foster calm. And with the low levels comes high energy efficiency: The design yielded a lighting power density of less than 0.5 watts per square foot, which is 30% below code limits. Another benefit is minimal heat contribution from the lighting sources, which helps ensure comfort for visitors.

One of the project’s most notable features is hidden lighting fixtures that support the impression that the chapel itself is the source of light. Robert explains that hidden lighting is not uncommon, but that the chapel presented extra challenges. The main difficulty was the lack of cavity walls or ceilings. To circumvent this problem, Robert worked closely with the contractor to identify places that could house tiny linear strips within the concrete forms.