A Hothouse Chapel in Hurricane Alley ("Ugly As Sin" At Ave Maria U.)

CruxNews.com ^ | 3/26/2004 | Michael Rose

[Pyro7480]

Someone needs to organize all the supporters of Ave Maria in opposition to this hideous piece of "architecture." I recommend that everyone check out Thomas Aquinas College's link above for what a real college chapel should look like.

[Pyro7480]

Ping!

[B Knotts]

Yes. I was very disappointed to see this monstrosity proposed.

[Pyro7480]

Let's see how the Ave Maria board reacts to any outcry. If they still try to jam this monstrosity down our throat, we'll know where they really stand.

[NYer]

Hothouse ... yes, that was my initial reaction! Why would anyone want to build an all glass church in one of the hotest parts of the country? Just consider the amount of energy that will be required to keep it cool. The whole concept is absurd!

[Pyro7480]

Why would anyone want to build an all glass church in one of the hotest parts of the country?

I didn't even think of it that way! Thanks! Monaghan needs to spend his money a little better!

[Unam Sanctam]

As long as liturgical norms are met, I don't see why they can't build whatever style of Church they want? I am as much against wreckovation of historic churches as much as anyone else, and I prefer more traditional church architecture myself, but I don't see why a certain amount of experimentation can't be done on new structures.

[B Knotts]

The reason I think that people (at least this holds true for me) are reacting so negatively to this is that Ave Maria is to be supposedly a somewhat traditional Catholic university. This design is decidedly untraditional, and sends the wrong message.

[Pyro7480]

Amen!

[sinkspur]

Let's see how the Ave Maria board reacts to any outcry. If they still try to jam this monstrosity down our throat, we'll know where they really stand.

Who's "we"? As I recall, this university is being built with Tom Monaghan's money, so it likely reflects his arrogance.

This is the same man that erected a massive cross in the countryside of Michigan, I believe.

This church is an "in your face", no matter how non-functional it might be.

[patent]

Who's "we"? As I recall, this university is being built with Tom Monaghan's money, so it likely reflects his arrogance.

Many of us have fundraising letters from Ave Maria sitting here and there in our house. Monaghan provided most of the seed money, but of course seed money is just the beginning of what they need. This university is supposedly a conservative orthodox university. It will flop if they chose to ignore the smaller donors, most of whom will be repulsed by taking all their money and building a greenhouse. Donations will dry up, some people will lose interest in the new university, etc.

[Between the Lines]

To be fair, here is an artist's rendering of the chapel. It looks much more impressive than the plastic model. It is reminiscent of the Perpendicular Gothic style and has illusions of having flying buttresses. Yet it is missing any spires which accentuate that style so well. The very large crucifix alcoved at the front entrance is a nice touch.

Moreover, it consciously avoids any connection to the rich Spanish mission style so common to Florida for several centuries.

Spanish Mission style??? Better look at the rest of the campus buildings. Except for this chapel, it would seem that they went to great lengths to make every building on campus look as if Frank Lloyd Wright had designed them himself. A Spanish Mission style chapel would be as out of place on this campus among all the FLW looking buildings as this chapel is.

It seems they have created a dilemma for themselves. F.L. Wright's architectural style does not lend itself to churches or cathedrals easily. And other styles seldom go with FLW's style.

I do think this building is ugly, just out of place. Very out of place.

[BobCNY]

Yes the design is a bit surprising for what I would have thought would have been a more traditional Church style.

It almost reminds me of the Cadet Chapel at the Air Force Academy.

[Between the Lines]

I do think this building is ugly...

Correction: I do not think this building is ugly

[franky]

I watched an interview by Father Francis (EWTN)of several of their students at the "Right to Life" march and I was very impressed with them. They were being taught as Catholic College students should be taught.

A problem for a building using that much steel is the price. The steel industry prices are sky-rocketing and most steel companies are telling their customers to call in for quotes on the day of purchasers. This building could go into big money.

[Between the Lines]

Requiring three thousand tons of structural steel and aluminum, the 60,000-square-foot glass-skinned church is set to be the nation?s largest.

It would appear that this chapel was designed with Guinness's book of records in mind, and not liturgical ideals.

[A.A. Cunningham]

As I recall, this university is being built with Tom Monaghan's money, so it likely reflects his arrogance.

Pot, kettle, black. You don't know much about a man who has risen from such humble beginnings and whose faith is much stronger than yours will ever be. Once again, deacon, you've confirmed to us that you're a fool.

[Aquinasfan]

Quite obviously the chapel is inconsistent with Ave Maria’s reputation for embracing authentic Catholic culture and tradition.

A fine institution like this Ave Maria doesn't deserve a modernist monstrosity like this.

[sinkspur]

Pot, kettle, black. You don't know much about a man who has risen from such humble beginnings and whose faith is much stronger than yours will ever be. Once again, deacon, you've confirmed to us that you're a fool.

I suppose you like this monstrosity of a church?

Monoghan can do whatever he wants with his money, but building a glass structure in a hot, hurricane-prone area reflects very poorly on his judgment.

[Aquinasfan]

I do think this building is ugly, just out of place. Very out of place.

All the warmth of a modern office building or shopping mall. Inappropriate design!