A Chair for Pope Francis: A Collection of Designs for the Papal Sanctuary and Charrette

It was destined for an event that was not only historic and public, but also sacred. The design was tasked to be temporary yet permanent and humble yet noble. Deliverables included plans, elevations, D digital and physical models, and a prayer to win. In April 2015, the Archdiocese of Washington DC solicited design entries from the students of The Catholic University of America for the furniture of Pope Francis’ Mass during His visit to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The central focus was the chair, ambo, and altar; timeless pieces were desired. In addition to being visually, artistically, and architecturally consistent and compliant to Catholic liturgy, practical considerations such as the need to transport, assemble, and dismantle design elements in a short period of time were pivotal design requests. This book is a collection of works submitted for the Papal Sanctuary Charrette Competition.