City Planners Reject Design of Chapel at Chapman

Plans for a $4.5-million interfaith chapel at Chapman University--which has seen two architects and protests from conservative Christians and Wiccans--suffered another setback this week when Orange planning commissioners rejected the project on aesthetic grounds.

After a 3 1/2-hour debate, the Planning Commission voted 3 to 1 against the modern building, saying it doesn’t fit with the historical feel of the city’s downtown--even though college officials said the chapel would not be visible from major streets and would be near other contemporary architecture on campus.

“I kept thinking of [Ray Bradbury’s novel] ‘Fahrenheit 451,’ when the government is burning the books because of new ideas,” said David Martin, the chapel’s award-winning architect. “It was very difficult.”

Chapman officials said they plan to appeal the decision to the City Council. The project previously had been approved by city staff and the Design Review Committee.

“We are deeply disappointed by the Planning Commission’s decision,” said James L. Doti, university president, in a written statement. “We have openly sought input from the Orange community and used that input in our current design. We will continue to pursue this important and meaningful project.”

The planning commissioners offered to delay the decision so more modifications could be made to the chapel, but Chapman officials declined.

Ben Pruett, vice chairman of the commission, said he understands what Martin’s design is trying to do--”they sounded like great ideas”--but Chapman didn’t follow its own specific plan, which promises to use architecture that complements downtown Orange.

Pruett said the commission had a similar experience with the building for Chapman’s new law school, also designed by Martin.

“When he had to go back once before with the law school, he sure came back with a great plan,” said Pruett, adding that he thinks the chapel could be seen from Glassell Street, the main avenue bordering the campus.

Martin said it’s difficult to produce a neoclassical chapel that will appeal to the spiritual roots of non-Christians, including Jews and Muslims.

“The decision was extremely shocking and disappointing,” said Ra’id Faraj, a Muslim and former Chapman student. “If we’re a diverse society, what a wonderful opportunity to have all faith communities feel connected. How would it match if we’re talking about an interfaith chapel? This is something unique.”

Orange officials have worked hard to preserve the Main Street feel to Old Towne plaza, which includes charming brick buildings and an old-fashioned traffic circle. Chapman University is a few blocks from the plaza.

The chapel--which Martin describes as “mysterious and dramatic”--is planned for the campus’ north side, home to such contemporary buildings as Beckman Hall.

“We purposely put the chapel in the center of campus to be at the heart of the campus,” said Ruth Wardell, university spokeswoman.

The design for the 250-seat Wallace All Faiths Chapel uses universal religious themes of light, water and nature. The rectangular exterior would be of beige sandstone and stucco. Its circular roof would be made of zinc, which weathers to a “soft gray.”

Inside, nearly every wall would be curved. And in the sanctuary, there would be no permanent religious symbols. Crosses, arks and sacred writings would be stored in closets, allowing different faiths to adjust the 12,000-square-foot chapel according to their traditions. And the center altar, on a hydraulic lift, could disappear into the floor for Islamic prayer services.

This isn’t the first incident to rock the chapel in its short history.

In 1998, a dispute arose over whether such groups as Wiccans, who worship God in nature, should be allowed to participate in the chapel’s ground-blessing ceremonies since the university is affiliated with the Disciples of Christ.

And then the chapel’s first, more traditional design, by renowned architect Fay Jones, was scrapped in 1999 after proving too inflexible, too small and too costly.

Martin’s design of Camarillo’s Padre Serra Parish Church won the American Institute of Architects’ Religious Art and Architecture Design Award.