St Sophia Greek Orthodox Church is located about two miles from Judson University, and provided a unique chance to design new facilities for the church. The congregation required a new worship space that would comfortably hold small services as well as large services on Feast Days, classrooms, office space, and a hall for community functions.

 

 

We were asked to design the new facilities in the traditional Byzantine style. The Greek Orthodox Church has a very long history, and the architecture of its churches has played an integral role in its history.

 

While asked to design in the Byzantine style, we were also asked to explore the possibilities that may arise from the church's location in Chicagoland and how they may affect the design of the church. Therefore, in addition to the ancient churches of Greece and the rest of the former Byzantine Empire, the new design draws inspiration from the broad horizontality of the Prairie Style and the steel and glass used in much of 20th century Chicagoan architecture.

 

 

The holiness of the church building is important to Orthodox Church. This design separates the church building from the other buildings, leaving its importance clear.