A New Campus for the Rothko Chapel - ARO Architecture Research Office

The renewal of the Rothko Chapel building realizes Mark Rothko’s original vision and the expansion of its campus strengthens the Chapel’s mission of social action.

Photograph of the Rothko Chapel with Broken Obelisk and Plaza in the foreground

The south campus is comprised of the Chapel, plaza and Broken Obelisk, as well as a new surrounding landscape.

Photograph of two people sitting on a bench in front of Mark Rothko paintings

The design challenge was two-fold: to restore the sense of awe that visitors experience in the presence of Mark Rothko’s fourteen monumental paintings; and to create a new campus which is grounded in both the singular power of the Chapel and the unique character of the neighborhood without overwhelming them.

animation of original chapel interior and skylight, existing chapel interior and skylight, and proposed chapel interior and skylight

The new Chapel renovation restores Rothko’s original intent for daylighting the interior space by replacing the central skylight with a new skylight featuring a custom light-diffusing assembly.

Aerial rendering of restored Rothko Chapel, new campus, and meditation garden

Aerial rendering of the Rothko Chapel and its new North Campus and meditation garden.

The phased campus expansion reorients the visitor sequence with a journey through a new landscape that prepares the visitor for the intense experience within the Chapel.
Original conditions.
Completed Phase I new campus.
Proposed Phase II campus expansion.

1 of 4 >

Connected to the Chapel grounds across Sul Ross Street, a new north campus is an ensemble including the Suzanne Deal Booth Welcome House (Phase I), Program Center, Archive and Office building, Energy House (Phase I) and relocated guest house. While the Chapel is intended for introspection as a sanctuary for contemplation, the new campus is designed to invite the outside world in, supporting the institution’s call to social action.

A direct path leads from the Chapel to the north campus. A shaded porch greets visitors at the Suzanne Deal Booth Welcome House.
Walls of brick and glass signify its public function and relationship to the Rothko Chapel.

1 of 2 >

Integrated into the residential scale of the neighborhood, the new north campus is organized around a public courtyard, which extends the interior program spaces.
The Program Center supports the Rothko Chapel’s expanding public programming by reducing the frequency of events in the Chapel, strengthening the visitor experience. The large glazed wall provides a public face to the community and allows events to open onto the courtyard.