October_1967 — Page 23

PHILIPPINES

Τ

CHAPEL TO SERVE CLARK AIR BASE

AMERICAN ENGINEERS AND ARCHITECTS architects

CHRIS BERG, INC., SEATTLE

contractor

Sanctuary

A N A-SHAPED roof simulating hands clasped in prayer is the strik- ing feature of a new chapel recently completed at Clark Air Base, Philip- pines, to serve the personnel of this huge U.S. Air Force township.

The structure comprises a 600-seat chapel, an office area and an annex. The annex contains a kitchen and a large assembly room which can be divided into eight Sunday school rooms by means of folding partitions.

Total floor area of the building is 17,500 sq. ft. and the construction cost was US$344,514.

The roof consists of eleven A- frames supporting 340 interlocking precast reinforced concrete roof slabs. The A-frames straddle a 50 ft, wide floor and stand 51 ft. from floor line

to apex.

Two precast reinforced concrete beams, resembling 57 ft. giant wedges,

Far East Architect & Builder October, 1967

bent at 12 ft. from their bases, form each A-frame. These beams were cast in forms built at the site. They were erected individually and joined at the apex by welding protruding sec- tions of their respective reinforcing

bars.

A 11⁄2 in. diameter steel dowel, with a 3 in. round bar spiralled around it and grouted after erection, connects each beam to its foundation. Reinforced concrete beams at the bends and a cast-in-place strut at the apex space the A-frames at 12 ft. 6 in.

centres.

The roof slabs, each measuring 4 ft. wide and 12 ft. 6 in. long, rest on the A-frames. They connect to one another and to the A-frames by corresponding steel studs pre-anchor- ed to them and welded together after the slabs were positioned. A cast- in-place roof ridge, poured monoli-

thically with the top strut, seals the roof at the apex. Joints are filled with sealing material and the entire roof is treated with an epoxy com- pound to achieve moisture protection.

Air conditioning diffuses into the entire complex from underground ducts through air risers. Air circul- ates above the drop ceiling and under the floor.

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Exterior finishes include pea-gravel wash and adobe stone facing. A 21 ft. wide, floor to ceiling stained glass window, set between natural- coloured stone-veneered walls, pro- vides the highlight to the A-shape chapel's facade. Walls on the annex are in alternating narrow spans of concrete masonry units and plastered concrete finishes.

Interior finishes vary from pea- gravel wash to wood strips in boiled linseed oil finish. Red asphalt tiles

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