Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel is a chapel in Bella Vista, Arkansas, designed by E. Fay Jones and Maurice Jennings and constructed in 1988.[1] The chapel was commissioned by John A. Cooper, Sr. to honor Mildred Borum Cooper, his late wife.[2] The chapel was designed to celebrate both God and his creations.[3]
| Cooper Chapel | |
|---|---|
| Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel | |
 Exterior of the chapel | |
  Cooper Chapel Location in Arkansas  Cooper Chapel Cooper Chapel (the United States) | |
| 36°28′40″N 94°14′43″W / 36.47778°N 94.24528°W | |
| Country | United States |
| Website | www |
| History | |
| Status | Open |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder(s) | Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel Foundation |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Nominated to NRHP, June 5, 1996 |
| Architect(s) | Fay Jones |
| Architectural type | Moderne |
| Style | Gothic (influences) |
| Groundbreaking | 1988 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 84 feet (26 m) |
| Width | 24 feet (7.3 m) |
| Height | 54 feet (16 m) |
| Number of floors | One |
| Floor area | 2,016 square feet (187.3 m2) |
| Materials | Steel, glass |
Located on a wooded site along Lake Norwood, the chapel has become a popular tourist destination in Northwest Arkansas. It is also popular as a venue for wedding ceremonies.
Architecture
edit
Jones apprenticed with Frank Lloyd Wright, and designed a building with numerous windows open to the landscape.
Jones used 31 tons of steel and 4,460 square feet of glass[1] to create a series of tall, vertical Gothic arches that run the length of the chapel.[4] Though it looks like an open-air structure, the chapel is glass-enclosed and air conditioned.
Soon after completion, the chapel was praised; a critic said that it "quietly commands a dignity and presence uncommon among buildings of our era."[5]
About Mildred Borum Cooper
editMildred Borum Cooper, born and raised in Arkansas, spent much of her life in service to her people and community.[1] She was president of United Methodist Women's organizations, served in the Girl Scout organization, worked as postmistress, and organized the first garden club, home extension club, and library in Cherokee Village.[1]
See also
edit- Thorncrown Chapel (1980), designed by Jones in nearby Eureka Springs, Arkansas
References
edit- ^ a b c d "About Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel". www.cooperchapel.com. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
- ^ "Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel - Encyclopedia of Arkansas". www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
- ^ "MILDRED B COOPER MEMORIAL CHAPEL, BELLA VISTA, ARKANSAS". beautifulbellavista.com. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
- ^ Barry, Helen; Nichols, Cheryl. "The Arkansas Designs of E. Fay Jones 1956-1997" (PDF). Little Rock, Arkansas: Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. pp. 63–66. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 29, 2012. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
- ^ Cordes, Karen (October 1988). "Encore Delivered with Strength and Delicacy" (PDF). Journal of the American Institute of Architects: 52–57 – via Archive at US Modernist.
External links
edit
- Cooper Chapel official website.
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