Wisconsin Builder | Top Projects of 2002

Answered Prayers

St. John renovation transcends criticisms

Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist Milwaukee

By Sean Ryan

Collaborators on the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist renovation endured the hell of public criticism before both the religious and architectural communities began to sing the project's praises.

"It was really the most controversial renovation in America (in 2001)," said Project Design Architect Jim Shields AIA, associate vice president for Milwaukee-based Hammel, Green and Abrahamson Inc. "It's the biggest turnaround that we've ever seen, from the project going from Mark Belling scorning us on national radio to winning national awards. We really went through the circuit on this one."

The criticism surrounding the project was heavy enough in 2001 that partners in HGA decided not to put the company's name on the job sign at the work site. Two years later, the company won the Faith and Forms magazine Religious Architecture Award and the Honor Award from the Minnesota Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

The renovation stirred a public outcry from people concerned the job would destroy the historical value of the 1847 cathedral. Ironically, the parts of the building that drew the most heat were added to the cathedral in 1943 after a fire devastated the building in 1935, said Shields, a 17-year member of Milwaukee's Historic Preservation Commission Board.

"People felt that a lot of things you could see inside the cathedral were old," he said. "But it was really gutted in 1935."

Historical significance

Ideas to move the cathedral tabernacle from the main building to a side chapel, to put chairs in the cathedral during heavy holiday masses and to remove six side altars drew the most criticism for neglecting history. But the changes put the building back in line with traditional Vatican standards, Shields said, and were undoing changes from the 1943 renovation.

Project Name: Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
Location: Milwaukee
Submitting Companies: Hammel, Green and Abrahamson Inc., Milwaukee, and Grunau Project Development Inc., Milwaukee
General Contractor/Construction Manager: Grunau Project Development Inc., Milwaukee
Architect: Hammel, Green and Abrahamson Inc., Milwaukee
Engineer: Hammel, Green and Abrahamson Inc., Milwaukee
Owner: Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Project Cost: $9.6 million
Start Date: May 2001
Completion Date: January 2002

"We went with chairs, and even that was controversial even though the Vatican allows in writing either chairs or pews," he said. "Traditionally, tabernacles are supposed to be in a side chapel. They put it in the main space in 1943."

Shields said workers from the Milwaukee Marble and Granite Co. used the six side altars, carved from Italian marble in 1943, to make one central altar instead.
"One of the rules of cathedrals is there shall be one and only one altar," he said. "The marble work was done with an incredible level of excellence. I really need to commend them for being able to maintain those traditions and bringing them to bear on a modern project."

The renovation also restored the exterior of the building to bring it back to its original appearance. Workers corrected a 1943 renovation error that broke down some of the buildings exterior columns to make room for a toilet box.

"I got even," Shields said. "I bashed off the 1943 toilet box, and stone cutters recut the columns."

The $9.6 million project also renovated a 20,000-square-foot school building into outreach and parish offices, added an atrium and created more green space around the building.

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