Moto Designshop, a contemporary architecture and design practice, is pleased to announce that Arrupe Hall Jesuit Community at Saint Joseph’s University has won the Silver Medal from the American Institute of Architects, Philadelphia Chapter. Silver is the highest award given for an unbuilt project.

“Our goal was to provide this religious community with not only a home, but a space that supports the serenity of their faith,” said Adam Montalbano, AIA, partner at Moto.

Named for Fr. Pedro Arrupe, a Jesuit priest whose cause for canonization opened this year, the residence is located near City Line Avenue on the western edge of Philadelphia. When completed in summer 2020, it will be home to 15 Jesuit priests who work and teach at the University, St. Joseph’s Preparatory School, and the Gesu School.

“The project is a successful investigation about light and materiality,” said Juan Miro, FAIA, member of the Awards Jury from Austin, Texas, “sometimes textured, sometimes monolithic. Other times it appears weightless. Each creating a lovely moment in time…. This level of accomplishment along with the detail and resolution are all worthy of celebration.”

Inspired by the shift between the Julian and Gregorian calendars, the chapel takes on a curvilinear form. The brick pattern further expands on those geometries, then morphs to create a veil, filtering natural light through masonry openings.

Father Robert M. Hussey, S.J. of the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus joined the design team on stage to accept the award. “We think of the chapel design as being about the swirling movement of time and the altar communicating the firmness of eternity. So, the divine existing in time and in eternity, experienced in both.”

Moto’s work on Arrupe Hall includes architecture, custom digital design for fabrication, and design visualization.

Additional members of the project team are Keast & Hood – structural engineering; Bruce E. Brooks – mep engineering; BEAM – lighting design; Stantec – civil engineering; Metropolitan Acoustics – acoustical consultant; Geostructures – geotechnical engineering; Hunter Roberts – general contractor.

The 2019 Design Awards Program was held on December 5th at the Fillmore Philadelphia. It included a celebration of the Chapter’s 150th Anniversary.

 

Moto Designshop
Founded in 2004, Moto Designshop is an MBE certified, progressive architecture and interior design studio in the Old City art district of Philadelphia. The firm’s work challenges the boundaries of contemporary practice with an artistic approach to shaping the built environment.  Beginning with a fundamental interest in the culture and context of every project, a rich understanding of construction methodologies, and powerful skills in visualization, Moto creates work that is meaningful, well-crafted and timeless.  The firm’s work has been featured in Architectural Record, the New York Times, Dwell, Architect’s Newspaper, Wallpaper, Architect, Philadelphia Inquirer, and Philadelphia Business Journal. Visit www.motodesignshop.com.