Cathedral of the Holy Cross

Elkus Manfredi Architects designed a comprehensive renovation to bring new life and light to the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, the largest Catholic church in New England and a landmark in the South End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. Relying on a 3D digital model created from laser scans, renovations included reconfiguring the sanctuary platforms to project the altar closer to congregants, restoring/lightening interior finishes, and integrating modern infrastructural and ADA improvements.  Historical photos of the 144-year-old church helped inform careful replications of decorative wall patterns, while new liturgical appointments complement the original reredos. Discrete, all-new LED lighting brightened stained glass windows from within and illuminated formerly dark ceilings that were enhanced with gold paint on the edge bead of the elaborately carved wooden trusses. Dramatic and resplendent, the Cathedral of the Holy Cross once again stands as a beacon to the community, both day and night.