St. Paul's Catholic School Building

Build in 1925, St. Paul's Catholic School remained in service until 2002. When the school closed, the Church saw an opportunity to transform the building and grounds into a functional space for the parish downtown community. The Cathedral of St. Paul hired Golden & Associates to transform the 80 year old building into a Family Life Center to accommodate the Parish School of Religion and other catechetical programs and social outreach activities. The 23,000 sq. ft. renovation covers the entire three floors of the building. Highlights of the renovation includes the addition of three 15 ft. tall windows to the east side of the auditorium, installation of an elevator and  other accessibility options, and the renovation of the building’s classrooms, kitchen and restroom facilities.

A 68 ft. tall, brick bell tower was added to the south corner of the Family Life Center. The four-story tower extends above the family lifer center and houses eight changing bells that were imported from Whitechapel, England. The bells are the only set like this in Alabama. The manufacturer of the bells, Whitechapel Bell Foundry, established in the 13th century, also cast the famous Liberty Bell as well as the Great Bell of Westminster commonly know as “Big Ben.”

The concrete parking area, formally located in the middle of the church’s campus, was transformed into a 21,000 sq. ft. lowered courtyard with paving and landscaping and includes a playground, columbarium, and fountain. Located in close proximity to many downtown businesses, the courtyard is open to the public and provides a tranquil place to take a moment to relax during a hectic work day. The bells provide a soothing sound that contrasts to the normal sounds of automobiles and buses passing by.

Details

Owner:
Cathedral of St. Paul

Architect:
ArchitectureWorks

Completion:
October 2006

Location:
Birmingham, Alabama

Awards:
2006 ABC Excellence in Construction
Historical Restoration - $2 to $5 million

2007 AGC Build Alabama Award