Mystical Rose Oratory Pavilion

Mystical Rose Oratory Pavilion

Introduction

Originating as a Chaminade University student competition, the project evolved into a community-driven expansion of the Mystical Rose Oratory. The original chapel, designed in the 1960s by faculty member Brother James Roberts, serves as the spiritual center of the university. Its circular plan and elevated setting offer expansive views across the campus toward Diamond Head and Honolulu.

While the Oratory provides an ethereal and welcoming environment for worship, the site lacked an informal, post-service gathering space for the community. Through multiple design iterations, we developed a pavilion as a flexible solution for events and everyday use.

The pavilion draws on the site’s natural topography as well as the form and orientation of the existing Oratory, extending its relationship to the surrounding landscape. Rather than functioning as a separate object, it expands the existing gathering place outward - creating a new setting for connection while reinforcing the character and sense of place already embedded in the site.

Details

Category

Institutional

Location

Honolulu, Hawaii

Size

4,300 SF

Status

Completed 2026

Photography

Mariko Reed

Key Team