0983

Name
St John Baptist Church
Location
Draper, Utah
Date
2003
Client
The Roman Catholic Bishop of Salt Lake
Area
30,000 SF
Awards
2004 AIA Utah Honor Award, 2004 GE Edison Prize Outstanding Lighting Design Winner (International), 2004 GE Award of Excellence Winner for Sustainable Design, Associated Builders and Contractors Award, Institutional Project of the Year 2004
Publications
1000X: Architecture of the Americas, Houses of God: Religious Architecture for a New Millennium

The place of worship for the second-largest Catholic parish in Utah, the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is the keystone building of the Skaggs Catholic Center. With a modern campus built to serve a young and rapidly growing congregation, the parish sought a design that reflected the historical and environmental context of the site, while celebrating the traditions of the Catholic Church.

Framing the main entrance to the Skaggs Catholic Center campus, the church features a modified basilica design with a rectilinear nave, 800-seat worship space, large bell tower, and several chapels. The building also includes administrative offices and meeting areas.

To reflect the environmental context of the Salt Lake Valley, the building incorporates local masonry, employed to create geometric color stories. In addition, a copper-sheathed roof pays homage to local history and materiality while providing a warm, weathered patina consistent with the religious landmarks of the Catholic Church.