Children's Hospital Chapel

The chapel at Dolly Parton Children's Hospital is a sedate, meditative environment welcoming to people of all backgrounds and faith traditions — embracing all beliefs within a space unaffiliated with any specific religious context.

The design's indirect lighting, soft colors, and simple forms create a space that allows for quiet contemplation without distraction. From the corridor, translucent resin panels define awareness of the chapel and create privacy within. A transitional alcove allows visitors to write requests for prayers or messages of hope. A sliding glass pocket door ensures visual and acoustic privacy. 

Within, the chapel is calm, sedate, and minimal. A ceiling plane with perimeter light gives the impression of a floating ceiling, signifying there is “more” beyond one’s immediate perception. Custom-built benches with acrylic legs float appear to float above the floor. The focal point of the space reimagines the traditional stained glass window as translucent resin panels suspended by cables, allowing filtered daylight to penetrate the space.  The colors of the panels reflect the seasons, calling to mind the cycles of life.