Christ Cathedral - Johnson Fain

Project Role: Architectural Designer

Shahrzad Razi was the designer on the project, handling documentation and consultant coordination. The Catholic Diocese of Orange acquired the Crystal Cathedral property and retained Johnson Fain to convert it into Christ Cathedral. Originally designed by Philip Johnson and John Burgee in the late 1970s, the building is now part of a religious campus with works by Richard Neutra and Richard Meier. The conversion included adding 6,000 translucent triangular “petals” to improve acoustics, control glare, and enhance the spiritual atmosphere. New floors and sanctuary walls use white and grey stones, symbolizing the earth, while the translucent upper glass walls and petals represent the heavens.