Altogether, Site Development built roughly 20,000 square feet of new space and renovated approximately 19,000 square feet to forge a new parish complex for St. Joseph Catholic Church. Yops & Wilkie’s design linked the appearance and the circulation patterns of these diverse structures into one cohesive campus, while maintaining the expanded 9,256-square-foot church as the focal point of the complex.

A FAMILIAR FACE
Efforts to preserve the historic integrity of the church’s exterior façade included cladding the roof of the church addition in the same type of clay roofing tiles as the original structure. The roofing contractor, Detroit Cornice and Slate Co., located the same manufacturer that had produced the original clay tiles. “Each clay tile is nailed individually into pre-drilled holes,” said Zanley. “The clay tiles are probably three-quarters of an inch thick or so, and the tiles overlap just like a wood shingle.” Added Wilkie, “There aren’t many roofers in town who can do that kind of work. It requires special skills that not all roofers have.” Detroit Cornice and Slate, one of the oldest roofing companies in Detroit, installed the copper flashings, as well.

The main entry and stone façade of the front elevation is unmarred by any change, except for a new custom oak door with stained glass that retains the historic feel of the church. Long-time parishioners walk up the front steps of the old church, comforted by the familiar stone face of the 72-year-old edifice. The new addition literally has the same familiar face.

Site Development dismantled the church’s south wall, saving the original pieces of Indiana limestone for reuse on the stone base and prominent gable of the addition’s front elevation. Saving the naturally aged stone, with sections of its surface stained by copper flashings and marked by subtle black smudges, literally left the imprint of the parish’s history on the new addition. Giannola Masonry Co. removed each piece of limestone one at a time from the old sidewall, carefully cleaning the mortar off each individual stone and replicating the random ashlar pattern on the new addition. “Removal of stone one piece at a time, followed by cleaning the old mortar from each individual stone was a very meticulous process,” said James E Meade, business development manager of Site Development. “Giannola Masonry did an excellent job.”

The addition’s prominent stone gable and its Gothic arch window compliments but does not compete with the original entry and stone façade, said Zanley. Brick forms most of the remainder of the addition’s front façade, blending seamlessly with the brick of the new school addition.

Yops & Wilkie devised a brick and stone façade that flowed across the five different building sections, weaving the structures into a unified and visually pleasing campus. The façade leans more and more toward stone as it approaches the historic stone church; conversely, the façade is almost pure brick as it nears the original brick school, said Zanley. Completing this harmonious look, brick and stone pilasters of the school addition continue the line of pilasters marking the original school.