In 1956, Soleri returned to Arizona with his wife, Colly, and embarked on building Cosanti, a five-acre plot in Paradise Valley, which translates to "before things."
In 1983, Dr. Alberts traveled to the Vatican for a meeting with Bishop De Bonis, resulting in the exchange of "mementos" as gifts for the Cancer Center Staff upon his return.
The chapel's design is characterized by its distinctive sand-cast barrel-vaulted concrete ceilings, reflecting Soleri's dedication to harmonizing with the natural environment.
Embedded botanical graphics, consistent with Soleri's design approach present throughout his iconic creation Arcosanti, further underline his profound connection to the local landscape.
[2] The chapel's spatial integrity and architectural elements make it a unique exemplar of Soleri's work in Southern Arizona, and internationally showcasing the fusion of sustainability, human connection, and coexistence with the natural world.
In October 2023 the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation discovered University of Arizona plans to eliminate the chapel by harvesting and relocating artistic elements to decorate a new "meditation hallway" in the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine.
"[7] At the 23 January 2024 Pima County Board of Supervisors Meeting, Matt Heinz proposed a resolution admonishing the university's decision to ignore the Arizona State Historic Preservation Act.