St. Mary’s Cathedral

Since 1895 this Midwest gothic church had several previous renovations which caused the Bishop and parishioners to be dissatisfied with their spiritually uninspiring interior. Through a series of educational and design programming sessions three critical goals for the renovation emerged. First, it was important that the magnificence of the Cathedral needed to be restored. Second, the setting for the rites and rituals of the Vatican II liturgy was to feel unified to the original structure. Third, over 60,000 square feet of new space needed to be accommodated on the small 2 acre site.

To resolve these planning challenges, we facilitated a master planning process that included several open to the parish educational and programming sessions. The collaborative nature of the process allowed all to be heard and in the end develop a concept that exceeded the established goals. By placing new buildings behind the Cathedral, it allowed the existing gothic church to be visible from the street and preserve the majesty desired by Bishop and parishioners. To reduce the bulk of the new structures the Catechetical Center was placed at the basement level with its roof used as a large plaza that would inter-connect future parish and diocesan offices to the Cathedral. A ceremonial and secure entrance away from the very narrow street side was employed to establish a pilgrim’s journey to the Cathedral.  From the “sheep’s gate” the assembly moves through the plaza to a new and larger gathering space.

Entry into worship space is through the tower. By placing the altar at the crossing with presbyter seating, music ministry and congregate seating encircling the sanctuary, the rites and rituals of the reformed liturgy can be celebrated in a graceful way in this pre-Vatican II structure. To further reinstate a spiritually inspiring worship environment the reverent and wonderful ornamental qualities of the interior were restored.  The Cathedral renovation included comprehensive structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, lighting and acoustical system upgrades. Parishioners are delighted that the renovation brought back an older memory of church while implementing a complete liturgical renewal of the worship space. 

Location:  Colorado Springs, CO