Dave Richen
Dave and Fr. John Domin, whose work can be seen on numerous pages of the Sanctuary website (www.s4sa.org) founded the non-profit SSA in 2004 to foster and encourage the promotion, use, development, exhibition, and preservation of sacred arts. Dave was the only president for 12 years, guiding and advancing the work of the organization and chairing each of the meetings. He assisted in the hanging of the many art shows which SSA exhibited during his presidency. As an architect, Dave designed office and storage space for Sanctuary staff. He met with me, the SSA Director, on a regular basis to develop the meeting agendas and wrote extensive notes during the meetings which were incorporated into our official minutes. Dave introduced me to artists working in various artistic media and suggested artists we might exhibit in our annual shows. Dave was an inspiration to all of us. He also had a marvelous sense of humor and an infectious laugh, making it easier for all to reach difficult decisions or accomplish arduous tasks.
David will be tremendously missed, not only by me and Sanctuary for Sacred Arts, but also by the architectural community, the contractors, and people with whom he worked on the many churches, monasteries and homes he designed and built. He incorporated natural light and the environment into his designs. He strove for beauty and simplicity. It was fitting that many of the priests, monks, and people with whom he worked gathered at the beautiful church Dave designed at Our Lady of Guadalupe Trappist Abbey to celebrate the Mass of the Resurrection in his honor.
J. David Richen has worked for nearly 50 years in the fields of architecture, planning, and building construction. Since 1983 he has devoted his professional career to the service of the church and Christian communities. In doing so, Dave has integrated his love of the church with his profession. He has discovered that working with Christian communities is his most meaningful work and after more than 20 years in this ministry, he still has a deep conviction that this is God’s will for him.
Dave has a Master of City Planning from the University of California at Berkeley and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Oregon.
Mr. Richen has wide variety of experience both as an architect and a planner. He started his career working for architectural firms in San Francisco and later moved to Oregon to take a position with the Church & Shiels firm as a site analyst and project planner. He has worked for the Portland City Planning Commission, SRG partnership, and Cornerstone Construction Company. He has also taught at Portland State University and Mount Angel Seminary.
In 1983 he began his own firm as a Consultant to Religious Communities. Dave has produced master plans as well as church remodeling or new construction for more than 28 churches, including St. Mary’s in Mt. Angel and Holy Trinity in Beaverton. He has also completed numerous remodeling and new construction projects for religious communities, such as the Trappist Abbey in Lafayette, monasteries in California and Menucha Retreat and Conference Center. David has received many awards for design, service and education.
Sanctuary for Sacred Arts lost a devoted friend, founding member, board president, and architect of record on October 26, 2016. J. David Richen died peacefully, surrounded by his family, after a long battle with cancer.
© 2016 Sanctuary for Sacred Arts