St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Location

Charlotte, NC

Market Sectors

  • Institutional

Sub Sectors

  • Cultural/Community
  • Historic
  • Infrastructure - Building/Site Utilities
  • Religious/Faith Based

Client

Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte

Partners

  • JLL

Preserving a nearly 100-year-old church in Charlotte’s historic district

The seat of the Roman Catholic Church in Charlotte, The Cathedral of Saint Patrick is a nearly 100-year-old establishment located in the city’s historic district. In early 2023, Saint Patrick’s underwent significant renovations to update the interior of the church as well as some restorative infrastructure work to the exterior of the building to preserve it for the next 100 years.

6,600
Square Feet
Historic
Preservation
Custom-engineered
Scaffolding
Tight
Schedule Requirements
Design-build
Approach
The cathedral’s masonry and steel structure was originally built in 1939. Cosmetic repairs caused by wear and tear included removing and repairing plaster, removing and infilling inoperable radiators, repairing non-structural wood framing, painting throughout, and minor flooring repairs.
The intricate scaffolding system, reaching nearly 50 feet tall and erected in three phases, allowed work to be completed without disturbing historic elements, including the stained-glass windows, the church’s existing lighting, and the original organ.
All work needed to be completed in time for the church to reopen on Easter Sunday.
Working in the historic district and with a nearly 100-year-old structure was challenging. To ensure work was done safely while also achieving the client’s vision, this restoration took on a design-build approach, with Barringer playing a leading role in designing and executing several key details.

Preserving and refreshing history

The project team worked closely with church leadership to determine the original elements of the church that were to remain intact. The interior upfit included a complete plaster rebuild and minor demolition of existing walls and mechanical heaters to open the space. Aesthetically, special care was taken to preserve the look and feel of the original structure while giving the interior a much-needed refresh. New paint was added throughout, and new wood flooring was installed to match the existing floors. All work was completed without disturbing historic elements.

Side Story

The Barringer Way

Scaffolding erection

Custom-engineered scaffolding was erected in three phases to allow workers to reach all areas of the church while completing the restoration. The structure encompassed three different levels, with the most intricate section taking six days and twelve hard workers to build and reaching a height of nearly 50 feet.

The project team shared regular updates and photos with the church and parishioners to showcase the progress and give a behind-the-scenes look into the extensive work and preparation being undertaken to restore their cherished church.