Built on Belief: First Presbyterian Church

This project is part of the Chicago Architecture Center’s Built on Belief initiative, a series of place-based activations exploring the connections between architecture, the built environment, religion, spirituality and sacred space. At The First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, this activation takes shape through a partnership between CAC and Arts at First, the arts program of the historic South Side church.

Together, the organizations invited three artists to respond to the church’s architecture, history, and community. Across the grounds and sanctuary of the soaring 1927 building, their work offers new ways to think about gathering, memory, sound, and what makes a space feel sacred.

Explore three projects across the historic grounds and sanctuary of the remarkable, 100-year-old site:

• "Imole Grove" by Bella Adekoya draws from sanctuary architecture to reimagine the church greenhouse garden as a true third place — somewhere to gather, exchange ideas, and simply be together.
• "The Living Quilt" by Schetauna Powell translates patterns found in African American vernacular traditions into an interactive gathering place.
• "Sanctuary of Breath: The Architecture of Black Sound" by Eva Nwachukwu transforms the church sanctuary into a living archive where sound remembers. Through spatialized audio, light, sculpture, and community-sourced voices, the installation asks what truly makes a space sacred.

Related: Built on Belief: Narrow Bridge Arts Club, another Built on Belief site activation, available to explore starting on October 17 and 18 for Open House Chicago, through April 2027.