Baptismal Rain Towers

"A Quiet Journey" is the title of an international project for Saint Alexander Nevsky Parish in Howell Township, New Jersey. The project aims to create a baptismal area for elderly adults and children with disabilities. The design takes advantage of the wooded site and features an open-air baptistry with eight water towers arranged in a radial configuration. These towers form a structural system to house the font, allowing individuals to descend into the holy waters for baptism. The design also includes a pergola resembling the original cathedral arch with a five-degree sloped entrance ramp. A dry stair at the font transept allows the priest to descend to assist in the baptismal ceremony. The rainwater collected by the eight stainless steel rain towers is filtered through structural tubing and directed to the font. The resulting open-air structure resembles a gazebo in the woods and provides a public space for meditation and reflection, allowing individuals to connect with a higher power through nature.