Cathedral of Christ the Light

The Cathedral of Christ the Light resonates as a place of worship and instills a sense of solace, spiritual renewal, and respite from the secular world — a sanctuary in the broadest sense of the word. Located in downtown Oakland, and composed of a 1,350-seat sanctuary with side chapels, a baptistery, and dependencies, the cathedral honors its religious and civic obligations to both the Catholic Diocese and the city.

With a building form based on an inner wooden vessel contained within a veil of glass — both of which are anchored on an architectural concrete base — the design conveys an inclusive statement of welcome and openness, while merging Catholic traditions with contemporary aesthetic sensibilities. An extraordinary level of lightness and luminosity is achieved through the highly innovative use of modest materials and sustainable design strategies.

The cathedral is part of a larger complex woven together by gardens designed by landscape architects Peter Walker and Partners. Praising its design as well as its cultural and civic role within the city, the Oakland Planning Commission granted unanimous approval of the project in 2004. Construction began in spring 2005 and was completed in 2008.

Architecturally-scaled graphic elements highlight the play of light and the integration of Catholic symbols that are key elements of the new cathedral. It displays a highly innovative use of materials, including glue-laminated timber, architecturally exposed reinforced concrete, high-strength steel tension rods, aluminum, and glass to provide lightness and luminosity within an efficient structural form. With a building life goal of 300 years, it utilizes a base isolation system along with superstructure materials that allow the structure to resist strength and ductility demands beyond the maximum considered earthquake levels.

From the very beginning, the lightest ecological footprint was a core design objective. Through the use of renewable materials and other sustainable design strategies, the building minimizes the use of energy and natural resources. With the exception of evening activities, the cathedral is entirely lit by daylight. The structure’s concrete makes use of industrial waste fly ash, a byproduct of coal production that requires less energy to produce than cement. The reuse of this material provides a better adhesive while reducing waste. An advanced version of the ancient Roman technique of thermal inertia maintains the interior climate with mass and radiant heat. Through displacement heating, small ducts beneath the pews cool the building from the floor.