Smith Family Chapel

Riverbend Church, Austin, Texas

While attending the inaugural service of the new 2500 seat sanctuary at Riverbend Church, a teenage girl turned to her mother and asked ‘but where will I get married?' This question led to the concept for a new, more intimate, chapel suitable for smaller services. The Smith family's commission of this 300-seat chapel and their involvement in the design led to a traditional form reminiscent of their childhood churches. However, the spare detailing and subtle décor intentionally provides a clean palette for individual events to command their own settings. Along with conventional acoustical strategies, the design incorporates state-of-the-art systems for handling air, audio-visuals, and lighting that do not intrude on the intimate setting. Despite its location near busy Loop 360, the chapel retains a feeling of calm, taking advantage of its setting above a ravine and near the hill country columbarium developed in conjunction with the chapel.