Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist in Chicago, Illinois, Lighting Redesign Longlisted for Dezeen Award

The 17th Church of Christ, Scientist in Chicago, a modernist building, had outdated lighting that made services uncomfortable, wasted energy and left its dramatic, curvilinear facade by Harry Weese largely in the dark, according to a project description published by Dezeen.

The source says that addressing these problems required careful design, close attention to preserving the building’s historic architecture, detailed knowledge of controls and fixtures, and extensive research and testing. The work included matching the original upholstery colour, echoing subtle scalloped architectural details, and lighting the facade, which the description calls iconic. Preserving the historic character of the building was central to the approach, a task of remembering the past so that it can be handed on (Deuteronomy 32:7).

The description characterises the design as a catalyst for reviving the building as a modernist landmark. The source does not name the designers or give a completion date.

The project has been longlisted in the architectural lighting design category of the Dezeen Awards 2021.

Source: Read the original report