Chapel establishes flexible space for both individual meditation and communal fellowship

The Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values is a gracious acknowledgment of the emphasis on character, values, spiritual development and global religious understanding for all of the world’s religions at the University of Tampa in Florida. The new 12,750 sf chapel, and future 60 bell musical sculpture bell tower, will transform the university’s central campus by defining a quadrangle plaza suitable for a wide range of events. The chapel form is highly evocative of its mission to allow students to develop their personal character and individual values. The main walls of laminated timbers soar upwards, cupping inwards to suggest hands in prayer. The layout of the chapel is based on the Golden Section, a geometric harmony considered sacred in many cultures and religions. The processional sequence through the chapel is clear and direct, and is composed of architectural elements that create whimsical play between shadow and light. The acoustically balanced chapel provides flexible space for worship, assembly and performance. A new organ, handcrafted of black cherry wood, and standing 45 feet tall with 3,184 pipes will anchor the west end of the chapel. The facility also includes a variety of meditation rooms, gardens, and meeting rooms, which provide ample space for diverse programs and events.