THE ARCHITECTURE

	About
	The Herricks
	Architecture
	Designers

Herrick Memorial Chapel incorporates functional flexibility and symbolic strength.

Occidental asked for a structure large enough for five hundred persons, yet so conceived that one hundred would feel at ease, and sufficiently versatile to house any type of liturgical worship, religious drama and combined organ, vocal and instrumental music. Architects Thorton Ladd and John Kelsey met this challenge by designing a classical cruciform structure with modern lines.

While conserving two features of Occidental architecture, the light wall and red roof, they introduced a gracefully flowing mass into a campus dominated by square and rectangular shapes.

Using sculptured reinforced concrete, Ladd and Kelsey produced a shell 144 feet long, 100 feet wide and 50 feet high, composed of eight freestanding "L" shaped units which are united and capped by a convex roof and central dome.

As opposed to one large hall, the cruciform shape permitted a visual reduction of space thereby creating a sense of intimacy. All interior lines flow to the communion table on the raised dais which is surrounded by clusters of pews in the transepts, nave and choir.

Among Christians Herrick Memorial Chapel has been called a parable of the Christian life. On the outside it is bold, clean, plain almost to austerity, yet graceful and confident. Inside? Spacious, simple, flooded with rich light, inclusive in drawing all to the center, and, like the red pew fabric, aflame at heart!