A modern architectural treasure, Chicago’s 17th Church of Christ, Scientist, was plagued by obsolete lighting that made services uncomfortable, wasted energy and left the dramatic, curvelinear Harry Weese facade largely in the dark.

Tackling those issues required not only a deft and thoughtful design but a curator’s care for preserving every aspect of the historic architecture; an encyclopedic knowledge of controls and fixtures; and tireless research and testing. From perfectly rendering original upholstery colour to echoing subtle scalloped architectural details to bringing beautiful illumination to the iconic facade, the design proved a catalyst to revive this modernist gem.

This project has been longlisted in the architectural lighting design category of Dezeen Awards 2021.

Designer: Morlights
Project: Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist