CLC Chapel
CLIENT: CHRISTIAN LIFE CATHEDRAL
TIME PERIOD: 2019
ROLE: ARCHITECT
SIZE: 1,800 SF
The Christian Life Cathedral Chapel in Fayetteville, Arkansas, is conceived as a sacred space that balances intimacy with reverence. As a complement to the larger sanctuary, the chapel provides a place for prayer, reflection, and ceremonies such as weddings and memorials. Its purpose is to serve both the everyday devotional needs of the congregation and the milestone moments that define community and faith.
The design begins with a clear axial entry and processional layout, a gesture that captures the timeless feel of sacred architecture. This alignment guides visitors inward with intention, focusing attention on the altar and creating a sense of order and direction. At the heart of the space, a large clerestory window brings light from above, washing the interior with shifting patterns of illumination that mirror the rhythms of worship and embody the chapel’s spiritual character.
A steel structural frame allows openness and lightness, while the honesty of exposed materials reinforces the design’s commitment to authenticity. Inside, a restrained black-and-white palette establishes clarity and humility, while rows of natural wood pews introduce warmth and tactility. The contrast between the muted interior and the glowing clerestory light creates a space at once simple, contemplative, and profoundly human.
Through its form, light, and materials, the chapel becomes more than just a building. It stands as a vessel of faith and community, a physical reminder that worship is as much about shared humanity as it is about transcendence. For Fayetteville and the broader region, the Christian Life Cathedral Chapel will serve as a lasting landmark of reverence, humility, and belonging — a place where generations can gather in prayer, celebration, and remembrance.
