Christ Cathedral | Adaptive Reuse of an Icon - Johnson Fain

Project Role: Architectural Designer

Transforming the iconic 'Crystal Cathedral'—originally designed by Philip Johnson and John Burgee—into a place of Catholic worship required a sensitive yet rigorous architectural intervention. As a Project Designer with Johnson Fain, Shahrzad Razi was instrumental in the technical documentation and consultant coordination required to repurpose this all-glass landmark for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange.

The challenge was to resolve the extreme heat, glare, and acoustic reverberation of the original glass structure while preserving its transparency. The solution was the installation of a massive internal 'lining' system—thousands of triangular translucent petals (quatrefoils) that modulate daylight and control acoustics.

The design narrative bridges the physical and the spiritual: the new limestone floor and sanctuary walls represent the 'Earth' (grounding the liturgy), while the soaring glass shell and floating petals represent the 'Heavens.' Shahrzad coordinated the intricate detailing required to insert these heavy stone elements and complex shading systems into the existing lightweight steel frame.