St. Patrick’s Cathedral, a New York City landmark building and one of the most revered Catholic Churches in the United States, underwent a major restoration and conservation project. The project included multiple phases and more than $177 million in construction. The ultimate goal of the project was to restore the structure to its original state and conserve the building for the future.
project
St. Patrick's Cathedral
With more than three million patrons visiting each year, over 2,400 masses said annually and 15 weddings officiated on-site, it was important that all work was completed without interruption to St. Patrick’s daily life. Thus our team created a detailed phasing and logistics plan that allowed the Cathedral to remain open throughout the duration of the project.
During the first phase of the project scaffolding was placed along the Fifth Avenue entrance, as well as the twin 330-foot-tall spires. It took seven months to erect the scaffolding with careful planning to ensure that all scaffolding was safe for patrons, as well as the structure itself.
Almost every inch of the cathedral’s interior and exterior was cleaned, repaired or upgraded. Interior renovations included the refurbishing of the wooden pews and organ pipes. Additional interior renovations included upgrades to the altar and the Lady Chapel, which is located behind the altar.
Structure Tone is in the final stages of providing construction management services for the interior and exterior renovation of the historic St. Patrick’s Cathedral and is beginning the geothermal plant work. This part of the renovation will use environmentally sustainable technology to reduce heating and cooling costs and creating a closed loop system. A compact geothermal plant with nine wells drilled into the Manhattan bedrock is the centerpiece of the “green” effort.
©John Baer/Building Images Photography
COMPANY
sectors
services
Architect
Murphy Burnham and Buttrick
Client
The Archdiocese of New York
Location
Fifth Avenue and 51st Street New York, NY
Sf
22,400
Architect
Murphy Burnham & Buttrick Architects
Dates
December 2009 – 2016
Contract
Construction Management
Owners Rep
Zubatkin Owner Representation, LLC
Engineer
I.A. Naman & Associates
Awards
Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award, New York Landmarks Conservancy
Best Practices/Safety Culture Award, Building Trades Employer’s Association (BTEA)
North American Copper in Architecture, Copper Development Association
