View Full Version : [Atlanta] Turner Chapel - Scogin Elam
Turner Village, at the northern edge of the expanding Emory University campus, is a discrete compound of housing, community center, and chapel for theology students, visiting lecturers, and transient missionaries. Dialogue and interaction among the various village occupants is the desired objective.
Project was completed in the late 80's and was very far ahead of its time. The materials and methods of construction are very relavant to todays work. After over 15 years the building has held up well.
The following pictures of of the Chapel in this "village" and depict a wonderful modern structure off the beat'n path. If you are ever in the Atlanta area this building is worth a quick visit.
Here are a few relavant links about the building:
Scogin Elam website on project (http://www.msmearch.com/academic/emory.html)
My flickr photo set of this building (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wizum/sets/72157594287219578/)
Unfortunetly there isn't a local rail system that will get you to the Emory campus or the chapel. But The Emory campus is just northeast of downtown Atlanta and is about a 10 minute drive from the downtown area. I will attach a KMZ file so you can easily find the building through Google Earth. Here is a snapshot of the relative location of the chapel in relation to downtown.
Here is a closer Google Earth view of the building and the immediate area...
and here is the promised KMZ file...
First off is the front entry area... the roof reaches out into the trees and creates a dramatic covered entry court.
This shot shows the column support for the front roof "peak"... The elegance of this design suggests the co-existence with building and nature, as the column branches out like the branches of a tree...
This view is of the front facade as you approach the building from the secondary entrance into the Turner village complex...
This is a closer view of the brick and window treatment from the front. This high window is constant around the whole building and places emphasis on seperation from wall and roof...
This shot is of the lobby of the chapel... notice the frosted glass element, this will become clearer in a few pictures...
looking within the frosted glass enclosed space that defines an axis through the building. The treatment of stucture and grid reminded me of the Wexner museum (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wizum/sets/72157594161978250/) by Peter Eisenman...
Here is a shot of the same space but from the rear of the buidling looking back towards the front and lobby space...
This shot is from the rear of the building but looking down along the defined axis... This axis leads you towards a prayer chapel that is dis-engaged from the building.
This shot is standing just under the out-streches of the prayer tower looking back towards the main chapel building...
This shot is standing on the back terrace looking at the main glass wall of the main meeting room and the frosted glass of the axis space.
here is a quick detail shot of the glass and roof as it protrudes outward...
the frosted glass axis wall...
The prayer tower...
I didn't get a chance to get inside but I have heard that it is a neat space as the roof is transparent. a sense of transedence as you are in this intimate vertical space...
another shot of the tower from the service side of the buliding. in the forground is this interesting detail of the building mass coming to a point and within it is a thin window. Also it has an interesting downspout for rainwater drainage...
and a final shot of the prayer tower from the eastern side of the building. to the left is some side meeting room just behind the lobby space...
do you have any inside shots of the main congregation hall?
Mark Timms
04-10-2006, 10:32
wizum...
looks an intriguing building especially from the google shot. Any chance you've got a floor plan?:)
do you have any inside shots of the main congregation hall?
Unfortunetly I don't Kevin... the building was locked when I was taking pictures... but it was very open and I recall that there wasn't too much to see. Hardly any furniture inside. It seemed that that space was very multi-functional in the way it was being used...
wizum...
looks an intriguing building especially from the google shot. Any chance you've got a floor plan?:)
I can see but not sure where I would find any... there is a book out about Scogin Elam that would possibly have it but I am not sure...
The building is primarily used for conferences and student gatherings: The day I visited they were having a mini conference on "New Age and Christianity: Are They Compatible"?
The millwork is very nicely detailed and is used as space dividers, etc. in the main hall.
A few highlights to look for in the detailing:
1. Brick detailing: custom molded bricks were used instead of cut brick at the sharp outside corners, etc.
2. Integration of steel and glass as Wizum has shown in a few shots - the chapel outback especially! Getting glass waterproof while wrapping in and around steel is not easy.
3. The steel detailing as at the front entry. Both at the front and the back, the roofs are propped up by these multi-strand posts that really look great.
4. The chapel
5. The chapel
6. The chapel
A wonderful building. SIng a few hymns in the chapel if you can get in: The 2 curved benches inside face each other with only about 5 feet between them making for an intimate space and the glass ceiling and concrete floors makes for a very reverberent experience.
The building is primarily used for conferences and student gatherings: The day I visited they were having a mini conference on "New Age and Christianity: Are They Compatible"?
The millwork is very nicely detailed and is used as space dividers, etc. in the main hall.
A few highlights to look for in the detailing:
1. Brick detailing: custom molded bricks were used instead of cut brick at the sharp outside corners, etc.
2. Integration of steel and glass as Wizum has shown in a few shots - the chapel outback especially! Getting glass waterproof while wrapping in and around steel is not easy.
3. The steel detailing as at the front entry. Both at the front and the back, the roofs are propped up by these multi-strand posts that really look great.
4. The chapel
5. The chapel
6. The chapel
A wonderful building. SIng a few hymns in the chapel if you can get in: The 2 curved benches inside face each other with only about 5 feet between them making for an intimate space and the glass ceiling and concrete floors makes for a very reverberent experience.
And that was my sidekick Danbush... we will next be bringing you the Morrow Branch Library by Scogin Elam in the next day or so... I bring the pictures and a few cheap comments... Danbush follows with his more insightful analysis and ideas behind the buildings... so stay tuned :D
imasayer
17-10-2006, 16:35
Why aren't you working for these guys?
Why aren't you working for these guys?
good question... I did hear they were hiring recently... they are a relative small shop... plus I didn't go to an "Ivy League" school so they may not even take me serious :) who knows... I always have an eye out :cool:
imasayer
17-10-2006, 19:57
good question... I did hear they were hiring recently... they are a relative small shop... plus I didn't go to an "Ivy League" school so they may not even take me serious :) who knows... I always have an eye out :cool:
I have a couple of friends that I went to school with in Montana that competed against ivy-leaguers for positions in good firms in Boston. They had never heard of MSU, but they got the jobs anyway. I am just saying you will never know unless you try. Don't sell yourself short. School is just a starting point, it is not necessarily a measure of what you do beyond.
I have a couple of friends that I went to school with in Montana that competed against ivy-leaguers for positions in good firms in Boston. They had never heard of MSU, but they got the jobs anyway. I am just saying you will never know unless you try. Don't sell yourself short. School is just a starting point, it is not necessarily a measure of what you do beyond.
Yes, good advise... you are correct... I think were you went to school, particularly in architecture, is overrated... It still comes down to the individual to learn and apply his education...
i'll say it again on this thread wizum...
all you have to do is ask, you'd never know....
i'll say it again on this thread wizum...
all you have to do is ask, you'd never know....
hey Kevin? can I have $100 please? :D
thanks for the kick in the butt...
I've noticed many references to Le Corbusier and Alvo Aalto in this perticular building. Scogin's time in Boston must have influenced this rather beautiful work.
hey Kevin? can I have $100 please? :D
:no no no:
One other thing that is interesting to look at when considering MSMEs work is who the principal designer is [was]: In the case of the libraries, [it's my understanding that] Mack did the buckhead library and Merrill did the Jonesboro library. THe Buckhead branch is a more formal design in it's thought and detailing which was appropriate for it's location in the up and coming "Yuppie-hub" of Atlanta. The Jonesboro branch is set in a smaller community in South Atlanta - more Ford than BMW! Both buildings reflect their intended patronage well. The original article for the jonesboro branch called it a "Kmart for learning".
Wizum: When you look at the jonesboro branch, make sure that you take pics of the whimsical elements such as the metal panel patterns, the reference desk sign, the cubbies in the back of the adult reading room, the satalitte dish over the circ. desk and get one of the library cards. If you can, also ask permission to sit at the head librariean's desk and look at the exterior windows and to the reading room: It's almost as if they thought about someone working at that desk! :P Also, look at the steping of the roof trusses from low over the kids area to high over the adult areas.
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