GROUNDED IN SPIRIT

2023 MKM Steel Competition Finalist/Honorable Mention

Located on Ball State Universityʼs campus green, Grounded in Spirit serves as the bridge between sustainability, spirituality and the natural environment. It is a space for persons of all backgrounds to find their spirituality with no fear of judgment and allows them to learn more about the cultural identities of their peers. Rising out of the ground, it reaches towards the sky while remaining firmly rooted to the site. It blends the built with the natural, allowing students and visitors to physically interact with the building without losing touch with nature. Long, curving skylights break through the ground, piquing the interest of passersby. The innovative cantilevered space frame and cable system invokes a sense of strength while simultaneously appearing light and airy. The minimally framed roof of the entire first floor is cantilevered over forty feet, supported at the end only by steel cable, celebrating the amazing properties of steel. The main spiritual gathering space is sheathed by a lattice of perforated stainless steel, teasing views to those entering the building without fully revealing itself until entering. Through flexible programming, the spaces allow for any and all types of spiritual practices without bias or discrimination towards any particular type.