The Seventeenth Church of Christ

The building of the Seventeenth Church of Christ in Chicago was the first stationary temple for adherents of this religious movement. The building was built in 1968 by architect Harry Wizz.

In 1966, the leadership of the Seventeenth Church of Christ decided to build a new church. The proposals of almost 30 architects were considered, but the choice fell on the famous modernist Harry Wizz. The site for the new church was chosen in the heart of the city. It was relatively small, besides, there were skyscrapers around, ready to visually absorb any new building. The architect decided to distinguish his creation not by its huge size, but by a clear geometric shape, a pronounced dynamic structure and snow-white marble walls.

The author perfectly coped with his task - the rounded facade of the building from afar attracts the attention of passers-by. Interestingly, the building is completely devoid of windows, and light penetrates through the upper glass plafond. The main audience of the church is on the fourth and fifth levels of the building. It is a hall in the form of a Greek amphitheater. Its walls are lined with travertine, and in the center stands a podium made of nut wood. There are no religious symbols, only two sacred texts engraved on the walls. The wall behind the podium is decorated with 3316 pipes of the organ, and they are placed so that they create a beautiful visual image, similar to the wing of a bird.