St Xavier Church Sacristy

Interior Architecture- Small Scale (<5,000 sf)

Project Narrative

Prior to the Project, the Sacristies at St Xavier Church were extremely utilitarian and unsightly. Air handlers were mounted on the floor next to religious objects, fluorescent lighting provided an uneven blue glow that bled into the Altar, and priests prepared for service in open storage areas that felt more like a janitor closet than a place or worship. The design challenge was to upgrade the utility and aesthetics of the space to provide a more cohesive experience.

The design team drew inspiration from the existing historic millwork on site and combined it with the architectural precedent of the Wunderkammern, or Cabinet of Curiosities, to create a new series of spaces that would feel like “they have always been there.”

First, the design team lifted the air handlers onto a new mechanical mezzanine, freeing up much-needed floor space. The air was then distributed through an innovative system of custom transom grilles and a wood-clad return air duct that completely conceal the much needed air conditioning systems.
Next, existing closets, doorways, and furniture were all incorporated into an intricate puzzle of new and old elements. An accessible restroom, storage closet, and janitor’s closet were discretely placed under the new mezzanine. Closets were nested inside closets. Walls open like cabinets to reveal old cavities. And a mobile countertop was designed to be wheeled out as an island when needed and then tucked back away when not in use.

Finally, all the finishes were updated. Plaster finishes were restored, new period appropriate lighting was installed, historic tile surrounding the sacrarium were preserved and repairs, and all the intricate pieces and parts were wrapped in stained wood beadboard and paneling.

The Sacristies became large, beautifully-detailed cabinets with “a place for everything and everything in its place.” The result is a space that integrates seamlessly with the historic Church, elevates its use for worship.