Chapel of the Risen Christ, Missouri: A Monumental Curved Concrete Chapel by Design Alliance Architects

The Chapel of the Risen Christ in St. Louis is a commanding example of contemporary sacred architecture in the United States. Designed by Design Alliance Architects, the 8,554-square-foot (795-square-metre) chapel reinterprets Brutalism through curvature, symbolism, and light.

Completed in 2025 within Resurrection Cemetery, the project stands as both a spiritual sanctuary and a monumental architectural statement. Its eight soaring concrete walls redefine the possibilities of concrete church architecture in the Midwest, positioning the chapel among the most distinctive contemporary religious buildings in America.

Architectural Concept: Theology Cast in Concrete

At the heart of the project lies a disciplined formal idea: eight massive curved concrete walls rising 50 feet (15 metres). These walls are not decorative shells; they are structural, symbolic, and spatial devices simultaneously.

The walls expand concentrically toward the nave, symbolizing the spreading of the Gospel. Their fragmentation references the broken body of Christ — a theological narrative embedded directly into the building’s tectonics.

This integration of meaning and structure is significant. Rather than applying symbolism superficially, the design encodes religious doctrine into geometry, mass, and proportion.

Spatial Hierarchy and Liturgical Order

The chapel’s spatial organization follows a compressed–expanded–compressed progression:

• Narthex: Narrow and intimate

• Nave: Wider and more open

• Altar: Narrowed but vertically exalted

Ceiling heights reinforce this liturgical movement. The interior transitions from 9 feet (2.7 metres) at entry to 30 feet (9 metres) above the altar, creating a powerful sense of vertical ascension.

This deliberate manipulation of volume establishes the altar as the organizing principle of the chapel. The space does not merely accommodate worship; it directs attention, emotion, and ritual focus.

Brutalism Reinterpreted in a Sacred Context

The project adopts a Brutalist language, characterized by:

• Exposed raw concrete

• Monumental massing

• Minimal applied ornament

However, unlike traditional Brutalist civic buildings that rely on planar geometries, this chapel introduces curvature as its defining gesture. In St. Louis — a city where concrete buildings are typically orthogonal — this approach is rare.

The exterior remains materially “pure,” allowing the concrete to age naturally. In the cemetery setting, this permanence reinforces themes of rest, endurance, and transcendence.

Light as a Sacred Medium

Natural light plays a central theological and architectural role.

A circular skylight positioned directly above the altar creates a vertical shaft of daylight that shifts throughout the day, reinforcing the symbolism of ascension.

Between the curved concrete walls, stained-glass windows introduce warmth and chromatic dynamism. The stained glass, produced by Emil Frei & Associates, transforms what could be austere concrete surfaces into luminous planes of color.

This dialogue between raw mass and filtered light prevents the chapel from feeling severe. Instead, it becomes contemplative and immersive.

Interior Material Strategy

Inside, the material palette remains restrained but carefully balanced:

• Exposed concrete floor and altar

• Acoustic plaster integrated into side walls and technical systems

• Wood elements introduced for warmth and human scale

The wood softens the heaviness of concrete, ensuring the space remains emotionally accessible rather than oppressive. This contrast reflects a broader architectural strategy: balance monumentality with intimacy.

Landscape Integration

The surrounding landscape, designed by SWT Design, frames the chapel within the cemetery grounds. The building rises from its context rather than dominating it, maintaining solemnity appropriate to its setting.

The minimal landscaping approach ensures the chapel remains the primary sculptural focal point while preserving the quiet character of the site.

Structural and Technical Collaboration

Delivering curved concrete walls at this scale required precise engineering and coordination. The structural system allows the walls to perform both symbolically and structurally, eliminating the need for additional ornamental frameworks.

The integration of acoustics, lighting, and mechanical systems within the sculptural envelope demonstrates a high level of interdisciplinary execution — critical in contemporary religious architecture where clarity of form must coexist with technical performance.

Why This Chapel Matters in Contemporary Architecture

The Chapel of the Risen Christ is significant for several reasons:

• Curvilinear Brutalism in a Midwestern Context – Rare within St. Louis architecture.

• Structure as Theology – Symbolism embedded in geometry rather than decoration.

• Light as Architectural Narrative – Skylight and stained glass actively shape spiritual experience.

• Material Honesty – Concrete is left exposed, emphasizing permanence and authenticity.

In an era when many religious buildings either replicate historical styles or pursue minimalist abstraction without depth, this project offers a disciplined and conceptually coherent alternative.

Conclusion

The Chapel of the Risen Christ demonstrates how contemporary church architecture can be both monumental and spiritually resonant. Through eight soaring curved walls, disciplined material restraint, and luminous stained glass, Design Alliance Architects have created a building that embodies both solidity and transcendence.

It stands not merely as a place of worship, but as a case study in how architecture can translate doctrine into form, light, and structure.

For architects, students, and developers studying modern religious architecture, this chapel offers a compelling example of how Brutalism, when handled with symbolic clarity and technical precision, can achieve profound sacred presence.