Designed by world renowned architect Pietro Belluschi, UP’s chapel was dedicated in October 1986
University of Portland (UP) celebrated the 40th anniversary of its Chapel of Christ the Teacher — the spiritual center of campus—with a festive Mass on Sunday, Oct. 4. The Most Reverend Alexander K. Sample, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon, presided and preached at the chapel service, worshiping alongside UP’s Holy Cross priests and brothers, students, and neighborhood residents.
The Chapel is located in UP’s Academic Quad in the Southwest section of campus.
About the architect
Pietro Belluschi (1899 – 1994) helped define modern architecture in the Pacific Northwest and across the United States. He designed more than 1,000 buildings, including the Portland Art Museum (1932) and the city’s Equitable Building (1947). During his career, Belluschi designed 42 churches and synagogues. Late in life he said he preferred his church designs over all his other work.
One of his final projects was the University of Portland’s Chapel of Christ the Teacher, which was dedicated on October 5, 1986. Belluschi designed the chapel with a distinct Northwest aesthetic, highlighted by natural materials, warm woods, soaring ceilings, and intricate oak carvings. Framed by pillars carved from Oregon oak, the double-doored entry features massive sunburst radial doors sculpted by renowned wood sculptor Leroy Setzoil. The chapel’s interior features a serene main sanctuary, a custom-designed entry baptismal font, and an intimate Adoration Chapel with stained glass windows.
Reflections on the chapel design
The Gates have been praised by generations of artists and art historians for their compelling portrayal of scenes from the Old Testament.
Rev. Richard Rutherford, C.S.C., who served as UP’s liaison collaborating with Belluschi during its construction, is the foremost authority on the Chapel of Christ the Teacher. Father Rutherford still resides on the UP campus.
When asked if he thought the chapel design fit with the tradition of churches originating in Europe, Rutherford said, “Yes, but [Belluschi] was not imitating anything. He worked from the inside out instead of the outside in. He built with the purpose of the building in mind. It was designed to enable gatherings that could change seasonally. ”
Rutherford further noted that the chapel originally had a large chandelier consisting of a glass box containing lights directly under a central skylight. The architect referred to the chandelier as a lantern. Rutherford added that the “whole building is a sanctuary” and that Belluschi tried to let the symbols speak for themselves. “The design is still relevant. I feel it could have been built yesterday.”