University of Saint Francis – Pope John Paul II Center

Fort Wayne, Indiana

The 6,000 SF, 250-seat chapel of Saint Francis of Assisi at the University of Saint Francis is the campus’ first freestanding chapel – a dream of faculty and the sisters of Saint Francis for many years.

The centralized location next to Mirror Lake makes the chapel a prominent campus landmark. The octagonal cupola, a hallmark feature of the chapel, is roughly 35 feet tall by 35 feet wide. It was constructed on the ground, then lifted into place on the steel structure of the chapel. The cupola features eight windows, each over 10 feet tall. They flood the interior with warm natural light, an important element in the space. The new chapel is three times larger than the existing chapel and hosts weekly televised mass for the diocese.