St. Thomas’ Parish at Night
Glowing softly against a deep blue sky, the newly rebuilt St. Thomas’ Parish Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. offers a striking example of contemporary sacred architecture. Located at the corner of 18th and Church Streets NW in the Dupont Circle neighborhood, this modernist structure is a bold departure from traditional ecclesiastical design—yet no less reverent. Clean lines, rhythmic textures, and a glowing vertical tower capped by a radiant cross define its facade, guiding the eye upward in quiet awe.
The building, completed in 2019, replaces a historic church destroyed by fire decades earlier. Rather than recreate the past, the parish chose to move forward—commissioning a design that reflects today’s values of openness, inclusivity, and light. A translucent glass tower bathes the entrance in gentle illumination, while the shimmering metal and ceramic cladding hints at warmth and resilience. The exterior pattern, evocative of stained glass or liturgical rhythm, invites interpretation and contemplation.
At ground level, the welcoming glass entryway and gentle lighting signal transparency—both literal and metaphorical. This is a place of gathering, healing, and forward movement. Around the corner, a preserved stone arch from the original church remains as a nod to legacy, but the message here is clear: faith can be contemporary, community-centered, and architecturally ambitious.
This photo captures the spiritual quiet and urban sophistication of a church confidently situated in both the present and the future.
Architectural Survey Appendix (Historic Documentation Format):
Name: St. Thomas’ Parish Episcopal Church
Address: 1517 18th Street NW, Washington, D.C.
Date of Construction: 2019 (Rebuilt)
Architect: Hickok Cole Architects
Style: Contemporary / Modernist Sacred Architecture
Architectural Features: Illuminated vertical glass tower, cross motif, geometric metal cladding, asymmetrical elevation, glass entry pavilion
Building Material: Metal panels, glass curtain wall, ceramic rainscreen
Number of Stories: 3
Historic Integrity: Contemporary reconstruction with preserved elements from prior structure
Current Use: Active Episcopal parish
Contributing Structure: No (modern rebuild outside original period of significance)
St. Thomas’ Parish at Night
Glowing softly against a deep blue sky, the newly rebuilt St. Thomas’ Parish Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. offers a striking example of contemporary sacred architecture. Located at the corner of 18th and Church Streets NW in the Dupont Circle neighborhood, this modernist structure is a bold departure from traditional ecclesiastical design—yet no less reverent. Clean lines, rhythmic textures, and a glowing vertical tower capped by a radiant cross define its facade, guiding the eye upward in quiet awe.
The building, completed in 2019, replaces a historic church destroyed by fire decades earlier. Rather than recreate the past, the parish chose to move forward—commissioning a design that reflects today’s values of openness, inclusivity, and light. A translucent glass tower bathes the entrance in gentle illumination, while the shimmering metal and ceramic cladding hints at warmth and resilience. The exterior pattern, evocative of stained glass or liturgical rhythm, invites interpretation and contemplation.
At ground level, the welcoming glass entryway and gentle lighting signal transparency—both literal and metaphorical. This is a place of gathering, healing, and forward movement. Around the corner, a preserved stone arch from the original church remains as a nod to legacy, but the message here is clear: faith can be contemporary, community-centered, and architecturally ambitious.
This photo captures the spiritual quiet and urban sophistication of a church confidently situated in both the present and the future.
Architectural Survey Appendix (Historic Documentation Format):
Name: St. Thomas’ Parish Episcopal Church
Address: 1517 18th Street NW, Washington, D.C.
Date of Construction: 2019 (Rebuilt)
Architect: Hickok Cole Architects
Style: Contemporary / Modernist Sacred Architecture
Architectural Features: Illuminated vertical glass tower, cross motif, geometric metal cladding, asymmetrical elevation, glass entry pavilion
Building Material: Metal panels, glass curtain wall, ceramic rainscreen
Number of Stories: 3
Historic Integrity: Contemporary reconstruction with preserved elements from prior structure
Current Use: Active Episcopal parish
Contributing Structure: No (modern rebuild outside original period of significance)