A symbol of the community’s spirit and fellowship, this school’s new campus is centered on a great lawn defined by buildings on the east and west and a colonnade on the south. The chapel occupies the ground floor of the east building; its glass doors open up onto the Great Lawn, reminding participants of the school’s belief that prayer and worship are intended to “spill out” into the community and to “open us up” to share the fruits of our contemplation.

Originally a worship space for a local Jewish community, the west building, or Galleria, runs the full length of the west side of the lawn with entry points to the lawn at both ends. The updated building serves as a forum, a living room, and an event space. The upper level possesses an expansiveness ideally suited to gatherings. While the lobby provides a horizontal venue, high-ceilinged walls allow for the possibility of a vertical meeting place, where visitors may engage works of art not simply as objects on display but as a catalyst for conversation.

Designed to foster conversations and learning—both indoor and outdoor—the open space throughout the campus, in moments evocative of a cloister, offers a range of experiences that engender a sense of community, ranging from large gatherings, to classes on the lawn, to quiet meditation.