Tower of Hope, Christ Cathedral

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Tower of Hope, Christ Cathedral

Tower of Hope and Neutra Campus, Christ Cathedral. Tower of Hope is at far north end of quadrangle; classrooms left (west); Arboretum (the original sanctuary, right, east.) Camera location in front of Gallery/Lounge. Camera facing north. Credit: © Christian Costea Photography, Inc.

Site overview

Designed by Richard Neutra in 1968, the Tower completed the quartet of buildings that comprises the original campus for the Rev. Robert Schuller’s “Hour of Power” ministry in Garden Grove. An overlooked masterwork in Neutra’s oeuvre, the slender 14-story, cast-inplace reinforced concrete structure embodies a departure from some canonical Neutra strategies while confidently deploying others. The vertical thrust of the 250-foot-tall structure, culminating in an 88-foot-tall cross, anchors the composition of otherwise low horizontal structures grouped as an open landscaped quadrangle.

Awards

Design

Citation of Technical Achievement

Civic

A Citation of Technical Achievement is awarded to the Tower of Hope, Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, California. Commenting on the project the jury noted, “Seismic upgrades are as necessary as they are expensive, causing some buildings to be lost to demolition rather than to be retrofitted. The success of this project, a dynamic assemblage of low and high buildings by a master architect, rests on patient research and a determination to find and apply creative solutions without compromising preservation goals. The project can serve as a model for others which might be lost to demolition.&rdquo

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Client

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, Christ Cathedral

Restoration Team

LPA Inc. - architecture and structural engineering, for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, with other consultants.

Location

Garden Grove, CA

Designer(s)

Other designers

Restoration Team: LPA Inc., architecture and structural engineering, for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, with other consultants.

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