A peaceful renovation | Johnson Chapel at Trinity School

The Johnson Chapel has been renovated at Trinity School, a 300-year-old college preparatory, coeducational, independent day school on New York's Upper West Side.

The 1,000-square-foot chapel supports a variety of activities, including regular services, memorials, religion classes and talks by speakers from various religious traditions.

The design methodology was one of subtraction, refinement and integration. Natural light was introduced by a light slot along the north wall, reflecting diffuse warm sunlight deep into the space.

The ceiling plane floats, disengaged from perimeter walls, and is lighted indirectly, creating a cloud-like effect. Doors, seating, lighting, hymnal slots and a sound system are integrated carefully into a wide ribbon of woodwork, which wraps two sides of the space.

Butler Rogers Baskett (BRB) (New York City) is architect for the project.