Gilbert Sunghera
Liturgical Design Consultant
�� to improve the quality of design supportive of worship in contemporary times�
gsunghera@jesuits.org
(408) 398-3381
502 E. Boone Ave. AD 111 Spokane WA 99258 United States
Gilbert Sunghera, S.J. completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Irvine (focus: Environmental Psychology � how people impact their built environments) and a Master in Architecture from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. After working three years as a designer in Los Angeles, he entered religious formation with the Jesuits (a religious order of the Roman Catholic Church), and continued his study on the relationship between religion and architecture at Yale University, earning a Master of Sacred Theology at the Institute of Sacred Music, Worship and the Arts. He served on the faculty of the School of Architecture and Community Develop at the University of Detroit Mercy for the past 20 years where he started the UDM Liturgical Space Consulting Service to assist faith communities as the work with their design teams to realize new and innovative worship spaces. He currently is the Superior of the Jesuit Community at Gonzaga University (Spokane, WA), while serving as an adjunct faculty member at UDM and continuing the work of this award winning national Liturgical Space Consulting Service to bridges high-design and sacred space.
APPROACH
Founder and Director of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Architecture Liturgical Space Consulting Service
PHILOSOPHY
I work in a collaborative process that helps congregations define their hopes for the project, while training the community on how design impacts one's experience of communal and contemplative worship spaces.
TRADITIONS SERVED
Primarily Roman Catholic, as well as experience with multi-faith and ecumenical projects.
EDUCATION
Master of Sacred Theology, Institute of Sacred Music, Worship and the Arts, Yale University (2005)
Master of Divinity, Jesuit School of Theology, Berkeley (2002)
Master of Architecture, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (1987)
Bachelor of Arts, Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine (1983)
SERVICES
Services for Congregations
Project Start-Up
Meet with parish leadership to develop realistic timeline, surface major project issues and goals, and assist organization in establishing an in-house building committee.
Programming
Work with building committee in establishing the scope of the project, and major objectives for this project with the use of an appropriate Needs Assessment Tool, and prioritizing exercises.
Educational
Develop educational component for leadership team, committee and congregations on the creation of sacred space, including historical developments, and current liturgical regulations and developments.
Team Development
Assist organization in selecting appropriate Design Professionals: Architects, Landscape, Acoustic/Sound, Artists, Restoration experts), by means of standardized selection process, interviews, etc.
Presentation Material for Fund Raising
Provide graphic support for fundraising and granting writing efforts.
Project Review
Review initial design schemes as the client representative, for adherence to project goals.
Services for Architect
Educational
Provide in-house workshop for design team with regards to current liturgical developments and documents.
Project Consulting
Needs Assessment and Programming with the client, review process with Diocesan Officials, public educational workshops.
Project Review
Critique initial concept and schematic drawings with regard to current liturgical practices.
SPECIALIZATION
Liturgical Consulting and Planning
Liturgical Furnishings
