St. Patrick’s Cathedral is one of New York City’s most well-known and iconic landmarks, considered by many as the center of Catholic life in the United States. Built over 130 years ago, the Cathedral receives over five million visitors a year from all over the world and serves as the seat of the Archbishop of New York. In 2007, the Trustees of St. Patrick’s Cathedral embarked on planning for a comprehensive renovation project to restore the exterior and interior of the cathedral, including the masonry, stained glass windows, plaster ceilings, pews, roof, and 9,200-pound bronze entrance doors. Interior upgrades include HVAC and life safety, including a customized fire suppression system. The project also includes a new, large-scale geothermal mechanical plant, reflective of the Archdiocese of New York’s commitment to promoting environmental sustainability.

Zubatkin Owner Representation, a Cumming Group Company, was engaged to manage the design, approvals and implementation of this significant historic restoration project. As part of this work, the team developed a more efficient way to deliver the project, particularly with regards to the cost and schedule. Beyond the challenge of renovating an important landmark, St. Patrick’s needed to remain open for services and to welcome its numerous visitors. Working closely with St. Patrick’s operations group, public relations team and the community, the Zubatkin team advised on the logistics and phasing strategies to allow the cathedral to maintain ongoing operations. This project was carried out with minimal impact to the invaluable historic context, preserving this iconic landmark for future generations.

As a result of the success of this project, the Archdiocese of New York has engaged Zubatkin to manage its major capital projects across the counties of New York, the Bronx, Richmond, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester. Projects range from parish and rectory facilities to schools, community centers and other multi-use buildings.

Images courtesy of Ray Pepi, John Baer & Whitney Cox.