Meier, Johnson and Neutra in Garden Grove....
Drove to the Crystal Cathedral Campus in Garden Grove to see the site being cleared for the construction of the new 50,000 square feet Visitors and Hospitality Center designed by Richard Meier and Partners.
The Center is scheduled for completion in 2001.
Photo: Kirsten Kiser
The first building on the site was the 1962 Drive-In Church designed by Richard Neutra (1892-1970). The pulpit had glass walls which opened up to an open-air amphitheater with room for 600 cars. Worshipers could join the church services through individual listening devices.
The Tower of Hope, designed by Richard and Dion Neutra, was completed in 1968.
The 13 story high Tower, behind the open Bell Tower, had a glazed chapel on top.
Photo: Kirsten Kiser
The 16 one-sided steel bents form a "Visual Fugue".
The building won the "Architectural Award of Excellence" from the American Institute of Steel Construction.
Photo: Kirsten Kiser
The Crystal Cathedral which opened in 1979 was designed by American Institute of Architects gold medal winner Philip Johnson with his partner John Burgee.
The Bell Tower, the Campanile, was inaugurated in 1990. The Tower is made of stainless steel prisms, and houses a 52 bell carillon.
Photo: Kirsten Kiser
Everything is BIG...
The Cathedral has more than 10,000 windows of tempered silver colored glass that are held in place by a lace-like frame of white steel trusses.
The pipe organ is among the five largest pipe organs in the world.
The sanctuary seats 2,890 persons and over 1,000 singers and instrumentalists can perform in 185 foot long channel area.
The service can be viewed on a giant indoor Sony "Jumbotron" television screen, or outside on a giant Nit-Star directly adjacent to the Cathedral, for "drive-in" worshipers.
Photo: Kirsten Kiser
The Richard Meier & Partners site seen through the Neutra natural stone wall and reflecting pool.
Photo: Kirsten Kiser
The new building is sited at the west end of the Main Plaza, between the Crystal Cathedral to the north and the Tower of Hope to the south. The building will house a variety of amenities which currently exist on campus, and will better accommodate visitors to the site.
These amenities include an Auditorium with seating for approximately 300 and a Café with outdoor dining at the Lower Level, an Entry Lobby, Bookstore and, Ticketing Office at the Ground Level, Exhibition Space at the Second and Third Levels, and the Library and Office Space at the Fourth Level. The Fifth Level is an open terrace that can accommodate outdoor functions.
The building materials will compliment the existing campus buildings and include masonry, metal panel, and clear glass.
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