Third Church of Christ, Scientist

The Third Church of Christ, Scientist was a brutalist church building with raw concrete exterior walls and sharply angular geometric forms. An octagonal tower rose prominently from the structure, creating a distinctive silhouette on the urban skyline.

The building was completed in 1971 according to designs by architect Araldo Cossutta as a modernist departure from traditional religious architecture. It stood until its demolition in 2014, marking the end of a contested preservation debate.

The congregation gathered in austere concrete spaces that reflected their spiritual approach to worship. The building showed how modernist design could serve religious purposes in an urban setting.

The building occupied a corner lot at 16th and I Street NW in downtown Washington, accessible by multiple public transportation options. The location sat within an area rich with other architectural landmarks and urban points of interest.

The congregation found the concrete interior spaces unsuitable for their worship needs and fought persistently for removal. After years of legal battles over landmark status, they finally obtained permission to demolish the structure.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Inception: 1971

Architects: Araldo Cossutta

GPS coordinates: 38.90200,-77.03700

Latest update: December 10, 2025 16:20