Aesthetics designed a sacred space to serve as a place of worship and quiet reflection, and to promote the healing experience for patients, staff, and visitors. The Holy Family Chapel was created in the true spirit of collaboration. Over 23 hospital members joined with Aesthetics to creatively explore design options that would meet their spiritual and religious needs. Designed in the Catholic tradition, the chapel can be easily transformed into an ecumenical place of worship to address the multi-ethnicity of the community served. Aesthetics commissioned ten artists to create works of art that are integrated into the architectural design, thereby enhancing the organic, harmonious, and sacred ambiance.

The goal was to design a Catholic chapel to serve as a multicultural and interfaith place of worship for staff, patients and families who wanted to include prayer and spiritual care at the hospital. To this end, it was crucial for designers to evoke spiritual feelings by using nondenominational design features. Two major themes were the use of light and the “River of Life.”

Light was incorporated via a stained-glass wall containing imagery of the beauty of nature and Lazure paintings utilizing inspirational rays of colored light. The River of Life was incorporated both in the flooring and stained-glass window. Other features include a water wall, with sounds that trickle into the lobby, and a prayer wall, inviting visitors to write prayers and sit in quiet reflection. The chapel also features an inlaid ceramic and stone river design in the vestibule floor.

Response to the chapel has been immense, far surpassing all expectations. Since the chapel setting strongly reflects serenity, it is an extraordinary environment for doctor/patient/family discussions, as well as a place for private meditation