Completed in 2022, the project comprises 14,530 square feet over three stories and avoids overt religious icons and imagery; the building’s simple geometric volumes and curved corner element, which holds two light-filled rooms for contemplation, signify it as a peaceful place for prayer, and gathering, regardless of one’s spiritual beliefs. The exterior is mostly light stucco, chosen in reference to the former church, with dark Kebony wood screening on the north and south facades that ties the design to the adjacent Denny Park, which is the oldest public park in the city.

The main sanctuary. Photo © Aaron Leitz

“We were inspired by Seattle Unity’s original building and by the natural setting of the park,” says Olson Kundig principal and owner, Kirsten Ring Murray. “Light, shadow, and a connection to nature guided many of our design choices, helping us to create a serene space that supports both spiritual reflection and community engagement.”

The ground level houses spaces that were formerly located in the basement, including offices, the Youth & Family Ministry department, and a small chapel in the base of the southwest corner’s cylindrical feature. Meaningful details such as reclaimed wood cladding, and “a floor slot in the small chapel that displays rocks collected by congregants over the years,” Murray explains, connect the new building with its predecessor and the history of the church.

The meditation hall. Photos © Aaron Leitz

Upstairs, the second-floor sanctuary is inspired by a traditional Japanese tansu box, clad in warm-toned oak acoustic paneling, with oak ceiling and floors. Custom lantern-inspired light fixtures add a soft glow, and a full bank of windows runs along the southern side of the room. “The building is oriented to frame views of Denny Park, which creates a treehouse-like experience that feels immersed in the canopy,” Kundig explains. Like the small chapel downstairs, the walls of the meditation hall, opposite the sanctuary, are embedded with rectangular pieces of glass. According to Kundig, the “glowing glass bricks and a skylight work together to foster a quiet sense of ascension and serenity.” They also serve as a welcoming beacon at night.

A generous terrace adjacent to an airy congregation hall looks out to the park. Photo © Aaron Leitz

Photo © Aaron Leitz.

The second floor’s Unity Hall, another space formerly in the basement, features a full kitchen, providing the church with flexibility to host in-house events or community meals, while also making the space desirable as a rental amenity. Here, doors open to a park-facing terrace, part of which is covered for all-season use. “Clean lines and simple, functional detailing keep the architecture grounded,” Murray says, “allowing it to quietly nod to sacred traditions while staying modern and approachable.”