Restoration of
The Historic Church of Saint Patrick
Toledo, Ohio
| Owner: | Catholic Diocese of Toledo |
|---|---|
| Completion Date: | 2007 |
| Budget: | $3,000,000 |
| Size: | 12,200 Square Feet |
Project Details
Located at a major gateway to downtown Toledo, the Historic Church of Saint Patrick is one of Toledo’s most important and historic religious structures and serves as a landmark which anchors the southern end of the downtown. On the National Register of Historic Places, it was built in the pure gothic style and was completed in 1901. This majestic edifice was designed by the renowned Chicago architect Adolphus Druiding in 1892. The original steeple was destroyed by lightning in 1980. The Church began the multi-faceted preservation and restoration project in 2006, which includes:
- New Front Entry Plaza
- Steeple Reconstruction
- Stone Restoration & Cleaning of the Front Tower
- Exterior Lighting
- Restoration of Marble & Terrazzo Floors
- Remembrance Garden & Granite Cross
- Art Conservation of Murals & Paintings
- Interior Plasterwork & Painting
- Restoration of Original Chandeliers & Sconces
- New Indirect Interior Lighting
The new 100 foot copper clad steeple brings the total height of the cross to an elevation of 240 feet. The new gold leaf Celtic cross represents the Irish heritage of the parishioners and the copper finial symbolizes catholic and biblical teachings.
The Remembrance Garden is designed to be a reflective space for prayer while also serving as a path connecting the parking with the Front Entry Plaza. The Front Entry Plaza serves as a gathering space for fellowship and the fountain represents the renewal of baptism. Architectural details were designed to match those found on the original structure. The Amherst Buff Sandstone was supplied by the original quarry in Cleveland that was used on the original structure and was hand carved by master stonemasons trained in England.
Eighteen roundels, two large murals and two paintings underwent extensive conservation utilizing techniques developed in Italy. The interior color palette is comprised of neutral hues, painted to enhance the definition of the gothic ribs and to create a warm welcoming atmosphere. Subtle shades of green were used to highlight the sacristy and shrines, with stenciling added to enhance their importance.
Michael Duket AIA, Principal-in-Charge
Steven Shrake AIA, Project Architect / Project Manager
Wendi Duty, Landscape Designer
Donald Kocarek LA, Landscape Architect
Sally Mancini, Interior Designer
Sue Fanelly, Interior Design Consultant
| Structural Consultant: | Westfall Structural Engineering, LLC |
|---|---|
| Electrical Consultant: | Design Engineers & Consulting Associates, Inc. |
| General Contractor (Remembrance Garden & Interior): |
Rudolph | Libbe, Inc. & Chas. F. Mann Painting Co. |
| General Contractor (Front Entry Plaza): |
Mosser Construction |
| General Contractor (Steeple): | The Spieker Company & Campbellsville Industries |
| Electrical Contractor: | Westfield Electric |
| Conservator: | Kenneth Bé |
| Photographers: | Jim Rohman/Photographer, Michael Duket AIA, Steven Shrake AIA |
