Houston, Texas
This project involved the expansion and renovation of the existing parish hall and church offices, a new cloister, a new classroom building and a shrine to Our Lady of Walsingham. The original parish hall, now enveloped completely by the new addition, was a pseudo-Wrightian style building. The entire campus has been transformed to match the style and materials of the original Gothic revival church building. The design of this new American shrine was inspired by the one remaining fragment of the east window that had been part of the 12th century priory at Walsingham, England, site of the original shrine. Rising 35 feet above the altar at its center, the height of the new shrine in Houston is half that of the original one in England. The new cloister not only provides a covered walkway between the church and the parish hall, but also adds a prayerful element to the space leading up to the shrine. A rosary garden with a fountain and benches welcomes pilgrims approaching the shrine. The marble statue of Our Lady of Walsingham is enthroned behind the altar with the Child Jesus seated on her knee.
PROJECT RECOGNITION
2011 Excellence Award, Architect’s Choice, The Cast Stone Institute
2011 Excellence Award, Hardscape, The Cast Stone Institute