A Chair for Pope Francis: A Collection of Designs for the Papal Sanctuary Charrette

It was destined for an event that was not only historic and public, but also sacred. The design was tasked to be temporary yet permanent and humble yet noble. Deliverables included plans, elevations, D digital and physical models, and a prayer to win.

In April 2015, the Archdiocese of Washington DC solicited design entries from the students of the Catholic University of America for the furniture of Pope Francis' Mass during His visit to Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The central focus was the chair, ambo and altar; timeless pieces were desired. In addition to being visually, artistically and architecturally consistent and compliant to Catholic liturgy, practical considerations such as the need to transport, assemble and dismantle design elements in a short period of time were pivotal design requests. Students were encouraged to engage non-related disciplines to inform their designs. Their submissions exceeded all these requirements.

This book is a collection of works submitted for the Papal Sanctuary Charrette Competition. The variety of student design submissions reflect the seemingly impossible task of integrating Pope Francis' humility with the grandeur of the Shrine's interior. Each entry resounds of theology, technology and sustainable imperatives bound into artful manifestations of design thinking.

Patricia Andrasik is assistant professor and head of sustainability outreach at the School of Architecture and Planning at the Catholic University of America