Loyola University New Orleans Chapel of St. Ignatius Earns National Recognition for Architecture, Faith and Community

In the News: The Times-Picayune | NOLA.com recently explored the chapel's architecture, growing role in campus life and national acclaim in a feature by faith and spirituality reporter Bob Warren.

The Chapel of St. Ignatius and Gayle and Tom Benson Jesuit Center at Loyola University New Orleans is earning national recognition for its distinctive architecture, sustainable design and thoughtful approach to creating a sacred space at the heart of campus.

Since opening in 2024, the chapel has become a gathering place for worship, reflection and community while drawing growing attention from the architecture and faith communities.

Most recently, the American Institute of Architects honored the chapel with a Small Project Award, which recognizes outstanding architecture in projects under 5,000 square feet. The AIA praised the chapel for its contemporary and innovative approach to simple, sustainable construction and the way its design harmonizes with Loyola's historic Tudor-Gothic campus.

The chapel was also named a 2026 Faith & Form Award winner by Partners for Sacred Places, a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting and celebrating historic and sacred spaces. The organization recognized the project for integrating Catholic worship with broader interfaith programming and reflecting Loyola's commitment to inclusivity and community engagement.

Designed by New Orleans-based Trahan Architects, the 4,620-square-foot chapel is constructed of mass timber and clad in handmade, off-white terracotta brick. Its circular sanctuary seats approximately 200 people around the altar, creating an intimate setting designed to emphasize community and connection.

The chapel's distinctive circular forms also carry spiritual meaning. Interlocking circles within the building reference the ichthys, an ancient Christian symbol, while the simplicity of the sanctuary directs attention toward the altar and the people gathered together in worship.

At the center of the space is a white ash altar created by internationally renowned Irish designer Joseph Walsh. Hand-carved wooden sculptures by Italian artist Bruno Walpath depict Christ on the cross, St. Ignatius of Loyola and Mary.

The chapel serves as an important center of spiritual life at Loyola, hosting weekday Masses as well as a Sunday evening Mass geared toward students. The adjoining Gayle and Tom Benson Jesuit Center further supports the university's Jesuit, Catholic mission and its commitment to creating spaces for faith, reflection and community.

The project was made possible through the generosity of Gayle Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans, and honors the legacy she shares with her late husband, Tom Benson.

The chapel stands in deliberate contrast to neighboring Holy Name of Jesus Church, the historic Gothic Revival church that has long anchored Loyola's St. Charles Avenue campus. Together, the two sacred spaces reflect different architectural expressions of faith while serving the spiritual life of the Loyola community.

As students, faculty, staff and visitors continue to make the chapel their own, its national recognition underscores what Loyola envisioned for the space: a contemporary expression of its centuries-old Jesuit tradition and a welcoming place for contemplation, worship and connection.

Link: https://www.nola.com/news/loyola-catholic-gayle-benson-church/article_df8f997b-c80a-474d-95c5-c6b7749aa6b9.html