The five-floor, 53,056-square-foot Richard H. Pickup Cultural Center is the capstone of the iconic Christ Cathedral campus. Originally known as the “Welcome Center,” the Cultural Center was designed by architect Richard Meier and completed in 2002. Meier is known for his commission of the Getty Center in Los Angeles and the Jubilee Church in Rome, Italy.
The Cultural Center’s ovalinear design complements the existing rectilinear architecture of the Arboretum and Tower of Hope and the triangular layout of Christ Cathedral. The center contains a small chapel, the indoor-outdoor Susan and Timothy Strader Family Atrium, and 298-seat Freed Performing Arts Theater. The Cultural Center is available for rentals and has hosted movie premieres, theatrical presentations, lectures, concerts, receptions and more.
It has also been used as a filming site for commercials and movies, including as Star Fleet Command in the 2013 film “Star Trek Into Darkness.”
In addition to hosting community events, the center has been home to exhibits, such as “Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition.” Most recently, the Cultural Center is home to “The Shroud of Turin: An Immersive Experience,” opening in November 2025.
Christ Cathedral Shop, operated by Catholic Books and Gifts, is located on the first floor.
In 2025, the center was renamed the Richard H. Pickup Cultural Center after philanthropist Richard “Dick” Pickup, who passed away in April 2024 at the age of 90. The donation is a beautiful reflection of what Mr. Pickup envisioned when he supported the transformation of the Crystal Cathedral into Christ Cathedral. Given that Pickup was Presbyterian, his gift to Christ Cathedral embodied the authentic spirit of ecumenism among all Christians. The generous contribution became the largest capital gift ever received by the Diocese of Orange.