Façades specialist seele assembled the 82sqm big internal façade in the St.Patrick's Cathedral in New York City.

St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York, USA

82sqm

all-glass façade

10,74 x 2,39m

glass panes

7m

long,

8-ply

glass beam

a 82sqm interior all-glass façade for st. patrick's cathedral

St. Patrick‘s Cathedral in New York City opened its doors in 1879. Located in Manhattan, opposite the Rockefeller Center, it is the biggest neo-Gothic cathedral in the USA. The chapel, known as the “Lady Chapel”, is situated in the apse of the cathedral. The idea was to spatially separate the chapel from the rest of the cathedral in order to let visitors enjoy the chapel without disturbances. This meant maximum acoustic separation and, at the same time, minimum visual encroachment.

  • seele was commissioned with the design, fabrication and installation of the 82sqm interior façade. To preserve the visual aspect of the existing structure, the design was planned as an all-glass façade, which is perfectly integrated into the building. The upper section consists of 10.74m x 2.39m glass panes of 3 x 12mm laminated glass, supported by a 7m long 8-ply glass beam. What makes the design unique is that the approx. 2.5t heavy glass panes are supported solely by this beam. The double leaf glass swing doors in the lower section of the façade are set slightly further forwards in order to preserve the chapel’s original mosaic floor. The glass swing doors are fitted with brass door handles and mountings matching the façade’s striking all around brass trims, which are specially designed to match the shape of the existing columns. Over several night shifts, the oversized panes of the Chapel’s glazing were installed with highest precision. With this project, seele proved once more its expertise with regard to complex structural all-glass designs.

    Reference overview and Header image: © Stephan Wurster

  • Façade specialist seele realized an All-glass façade to separate the Lady chapel of the St. Patrick's Cathedral from the rest.
  • The double leaf glass swing doors in the lower section of the façade are set slightly further forwards in order to preserve the chapel’s original mosaic floor.
  • seele was comissioned to install the 82sqm All-glass façade.
  • In the lower section of the façade one double-leaf glass swing door and two single-leaf glass doors are integrated.
Façade specialist seele realized an All-glass façade to separate the Lady chapel of the St. Patrick's Cathedral from the rest.
© Stephan Wurster
The double leaf glass swing doors in the lower section of the façade are set slightly further forwards in order to preserve the chapel’s original mosaic floor.
© Stephan Wurster
seele was comissioned to install the 82sqm All-glass façade.
© Stephan Wurster
In the lower section of the façade one double-leaf glass swing door and two single-leaf glass doors are integrated.
© Stephan Wurster

Credits

Client Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
General contractor Structure Tone, Inc.
Architect Murphy Burnham & Buttrick Architects
Engineer Robert Silman Associates
Date of completion 2017
Scope of work by seele
  • All-glass façade
    • approx. 82sqm
    • approx. 10,74m x 2,39m glass panes
    • all around brass trims
    • approx. 7m long, 8-ply glass beam
    • overhead glazing above doors
  • 2 single-leaf glass swing doors (approx. 0,9m x 3m)
  • 1 double-leaf glass swing door (approx. 1,8m x 3m)
Awards
  • Glass Magazine Award 2018 - Most Innovative Interior Glass Rails, Walls and Doors
  • American Architecture Award
  • A+ Awards Special Mention