Restoration on  Schedule and Under Budget


Established in 1839, Christ Church Cathedral is one of Houston’s oldest organized congregations.  After outgrowing two previous structures, one of which collapsed, Joseph Arthur Tempest and Silas McBee designed the existing Cathedral in 1893.


Faced with complex maintenance and repair problems and less than a year until a new Bishop’s ordination, the Cathedral commissioned Volz and Associates, Inc., in a joint venture with Heimsath Architects, to provide a complete physical assessment and restoration of the building.  The team quickly identified and solved the physical problems of the building while meeting the Cathedral’s schedule and budget.  The $1.4 million restoration was completed in 3.5 months, weeks before the ordination, and $72,837 under budget.


Key Restoration Issues

  1. ★New roof and drainage system

  2. ★Stained glass restoration

  3. ★Interior finish and pew restoration

  4. ★New fire detection and suppression

  5. ★Lighting and acoustic improvements

  6. ★HVAC upgrades


Scope of Services

  1. ★Architectural design and construction administration, 1995


Location

Houston, Texas


Historic Designations

  1. ★National Register of Historic Places

  2. ★Recorded Texas Historic Landmark

 

Christ Church Cathedral