St. Croix Lutheran High School Copper Chapel

I’m not usually drawn to chapels – they just aren’t my deal. However, the St. Croix Lutheran High School Chapel in West St. Paul, Minnesota is an exception. It’s simple, yet, lovely in form and shimmery with copper. I love how tight it is; mod but classic (if that makes sense). Just an overall beautiful chapel.

The chapel is actually an award winning design from Kodet Architectural Group.

From Kodet Architectural Group:

“The chapel exudes symbolism from the three shields at the building’s front exterior to the copper material in which it is sheathed… Seating over 500, the chapel’s various seating arrangements accommodate the dynamic needs of the school. Canted windows, tilted ceiling panels and sloped projection screen walls all contribute to the excellent acoustics. The custom baptismal font, altar, lectern, cross, and candelabras complete the space and complement the architecture.”

Copper.org featured the chapel because of the obvious – its great flat seam wall cladding. Their site offers a neat look into the copper choice for the chapel…

“Copper was selected because of its symbolic representation of life.  When first installed, it is bright and contains all the promises that life has to offer.  At this early stage, it is easily influenced by exterior elements, reflecting the colors of the sky.  Soon after its exposure to nature, the copper begins to mature.  Over the next 20 years it changes to varying depths of brown and begins to patina.  In the final years, copper takes on a green and weathered appearance; a beautiful result earned from a productive and inspiring life.”

Amazing. What do you think? Have you seen another cool chapel? Why not tell me about it in the comments.