Houston’s Co-Cathedral Construction Nears Completion

Ziegler Cooper Architects reports that the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston is on schedule for completion soon after the New Year. Commissioned by Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza of the archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, the firm was charged with designing “a new cathedral for the ages, one of profound spiritual expression and enduring artistic quality.” Located in the southern central business district of downtown Houston, The Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart has played a critical role in the redevelopment of the Main Street corridor by commanding an entire city block and creating a new landmark: Cathedral Square. The exterior of the cathedral was inspired by the Italian Romanesque style. Built with more than 73,000 square feet of Indiana limestone, the cathedral is capped with a copper dome supporting a 17-foot-high, gold-leaf cross. Soaring 125 feet above the altar, the dome is encircled by 12 stained glass windows bearing the images of the 12 apostles. An eight-foot oculus depicts the Holy Spirit stained glass.