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 — it provides 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 as the community’s symbolic soul. The design achieves an extraordinary level of lightness and luminosity through the highly innovative use of modest materials and sustainable design strategies.
The cathedral is part of a larger complex woven together by gardens 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.
Cathedral of Christ the Light
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Project Facts
Location: Oakland, California
Project Completion: 2008
Site Area: 2.50 acres
Project Area: 250,000 ft2
Number of Stories: 1
Building Height: 136 ft
Market: Cultural
Service: Architecture, Graphics + Branding, Interior Design, Structural + Civil Engineering
News
Awards
2015
50 Significant Structures in 50 YearsStructural Engineers Association of Illinois2010
National Honor Award for Interior ArchitectureAmerican Institute of Architects (AIA)2009
California Wood Design Award: Landmark CategoryWoodWorks2009
Award of Excellence: Large Project, Landmark Structures CategoryStructural Engineers Association of Northern California2009
Jurors' Favorite Honor AwardStructural Engineers Association of Illinois2009
Award of Excellence: Landmark StructuresStructural Engineers Association of California2009
Architecture & Interiors Category: Gold AwardSpark Awards2009
Honor AwardSociety for Environmental Graphic Design2009
Best East Bay Public or Cultural SpaceSan Francisco Business Times2009
Best Community Impact - Inner East BaySan Francisco Business Times2009
Pro AV Spotlight Award (led by Shen Milsom Wilke, Inc.)Pro AV Magazine2009
Outstanding Project, New Buildings Under $10 millionNational Council of Structural Engineers Association2009
Interior Design AwardInternational Interior Design Association2009
Best of CompetitionInternational Interior Design Association2009
Best in ShowInternational Interior Design Association - Northern California Chapter2009
Honor AwardInternational Interior Design Association - Northern California Chapter2009
Best of Year: Institutional Merit AwardInterior Design2009
Award for Community or Residential StructuresInstitution of Structural Engineers2009
Wood Engineering Innovation AwardForest Products Society2009
Design Award for Religious Architecture: Liturgical/Interior DesignFaith and Form magazine and the Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art and Architecture (IFRAA)2009
Design Award for Religious Architecture: New FacilitiesFaith and Form magazine and the Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art and Architecture (IFRAA)2009
Annual National AwardD&AD British Design and Art Direction2009
American Architecture AwardChicago Athenaeum2009
Annual Design ReviewArchitect Magazine2009
Outstanding Architectural Engineering Project of the YearAmerican Society of Civil Engineers - San Francisco Section2009
Annual National AwardAmerican Institute of Graphic Arts2009
National Honor Award for ArchitectureAmerican Institute of Architects (AIA)2009
Excellence in Architecture: Honor AwardAIA – San Francisco Chapter2009
Honor AwardAIA – East Bay Chapter2009
Honor AwardAIA – California Council2008
Ten of the World's Most Beautiful Green Buildingstreehugger.com2008
Wood Design Awards: Honor AwardWood Design & Building Magazine2008
Best Building Site of the YearWallpaper Magazine2008
Best of the Best AwardMcGraw-Hill Construction2008
Overall Top ProjectCalifornia Construction Magazine2008
Outstanding Architectural DesignCalifornia Construction Magazine2007
Regional Architecture Award for Use of ConcreteAmerican Concrete Institute - Northern California and Western Nevada Chapter2003
Unbuilt Design AwardAIA – San Francisco ChapterSee Also...

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