Connective Clouds

The remodel of St. Thomas More Parish required the designers to integrate new construction with refinished existing space and with remodeled expansion areas that open into existing and new Education Center rooms. Many of the primary spaces are scaled differently to serve different program needs. In order to give the remodeled building a sense of cohesion, it was decided that the three primary public spaces share a similar design element that could be uniquely expressed for each distinct space. These adjoining spaces share a dramatic new ceiling cloud that responds to the particulars of each room while thematically marrying the individual parts into a seamless whole. The cloud shapes are reflected on the floors and lighting is similar in these important public spaces. The clouds are multi-purposed: to reflect available daylight deeply into the rooms, to conceal ductwork while preserving ceiling height where possible, and to show off and enhance other building features such as the Chapel in the Gathering Space and the Stage Proscenium in the Social Hall. These inspiring connective clouds have been universally applauded by the Parish and the Diocese as an uplifting contribution to St Thomas More's learning environments.