GRANDAWARDS ACEC 201 8 ENG I NE E R I N G EXCE L L E N C E AWA R DS Bahá'í Temple of South America Santiago, Chile Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Waltham, Massachusetts Envisioned to "capture the sunlight and be transformed by it" during daylight and "glow with a dreamlike serenity" at night, the breathtaking Bahá'í temple more than accomplished its goals. Located in the foothills of the Andes Mountains outside of Santiago, Chile, the temple's superstructure is composed of nine translucent wings. The underlying structures are free-form tubular space trusses rising to a top ring at the structure's oculus. The space trusses are clad on the outside with borosilicate glass panels and on the interior with Portueguse marble panels. The project team constructed this complex, free-flowing design in a remote site with high seismic activity, creating one of the world's most breathtaking centers of worship. 24 ENGINEERING INC. MAY / JUNE 2018