Old St. Patrick’s Church
Chicago, Illinois
1999
In 1983, Father Jack Wall became Pastor of Old St Patricks Church, the oldest public building in Chicago. With only four parishioners and a worn building, Father Wall began to revive the parish by developing community programs and restoring the church building, which houses original stained glass windows designed by artist Thomas O’Shaughnessy.
The windows, which express Celtic culture as seen in the 9th-century illuminated manuscript the Book of Kells, inspired the goal of the renovation: to connect Celtic spirituality to contemporary Catholic worship. In this way, the project constituted a radical approach: one that prioritized restoring the spirit of the place over its historical form.
As Booth Hansen architects began studying the interior, they discovered evidence of brightly colored stencils designed by O’Shaughnessy. Using their original colors, they took his vision to new heights by envisioning an interior entirely adorned with intricate Celtic stencilwork.
The existing 19th century Italianate sacristy and its extant ad apsidem altar seemed contradictory to both the project’s celebration of Celtic heritage and contemporary Catholic worship. Accordingly, Booth Hansen proposed a new sacristy which preserved the original on its backside and featured intricate plaster knotwork facing the sanctuary.
Booth Hansen first built each knotwork panel in-house out of foam. Then, contractors cast each in plaster and fit them together.
A gracious, light-filled space, rejuvenated with spirit, welcomed an influx of new parishioners into a thriving Church. The American Institute of Architects honored the project with the prestigious national Award for Design Excellence.
AIA 2002 National Award for Interior Architecture
IFRAA 2001 Religious Architecture Award
2001 Guth Illumination Design Award
Friends of Downtown 2000 Best Renovation Award
AIA 1996 Chicago Interior Architecture Award