Designed in 1948 and nestled within a grove of centuries-old live oaks and towering cedar elms, Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel is the oldest unreconstructed building on campus and lies at the heart of the University. With this in mind, the design team collaborated to develop a sensitive renovation plan for the beloved chapel and its surrounding grounds. The team was tasked with expanding the chapel for the Campus Ministry, strengthening the relationship between interior and exterior spaces, promoting water conservation, fostering sustainability awareness, and creating garden spaces for mediation and contemplation. The outer edge of the chapel garden is defined by an arcing swale, over which visitors cross by footbridge though the curvilinear evergreen hedgerow. Inside the garden, red and white blossoms of native and traditional plants hug decomposed granite paths and gathering areas, where visitors are invited to sit on concrete benches under the shade of new and historic cedar elms. Trees in poor health were removed, but were salvaged as free floating seating elements in the garden. Rain water from the roof is directed into a central basin, allowing ephemeral rains to splash over and nourish the surrounding plantings. The garden is a venue for both ceremonious gatherings and solitary reflection, extending the spirit of the chapel outdoors.

“...The chapel will be a visual call to prayer. As students are rushing by, they’ll see a welcoming space, a space to pray and decompress from the stresses of college life.” – Holy Cross Father Peter Walsh, director of Campus Ministry at St. Edward’s University