St. John Paul II National Shrine
About
THIS PROJECT
Saint John Paul II National Shrine, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, is a place of prayer dedicated to the memory of Pope Saint John Paul II. Whiting-Turner recently completed a multiphased, occupied renovation/addition to the facility consisting of a variety of projects.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
LOCATION:
Washington, DC
Mid-Atlantic
CLIENT:
Knights of Columbus
SEAT CHURCH
POUND MARBLE ALTAR
SEAT RELIQUARY CHAPEL
Main Church
The main church of the Shrine received a 3,600 SF addition on top of the existing structure to accommodate a 500-seat church space, 50-seat reliquary chapel, circulation space, sacristy and public restrooms. The marble altar was fabricated in Italy and weighs 9,000 pounds. It was installed using a custom trolley system to distribute the load as it traveled from the cargo container to the chapel. The church and chapel required careful coordination with the owner’s artist for installation of mosaics on all wall surfaces and liturgical stone carvings.
A Gift of Love: The Life of Saint John Paul II
A Gift of Love is a permanent exhibit on the life and teachings of Pope John Paul II. The interior construction was fast-tracked to be completed in time for the expected canonization of John Paul II. The exhibit includes videos, artifacts, images and interactive displays to guide visitors through the history of Saint John Paul II. Construction included all new partitions, ceilings, floors, as well as new mechanical, electrical, sprinkler and fire alarm systems. The project also included demolition of a monumental ramp adjacent to exhibit space, as well as installation of a two-level monumental stairway in the atrium.
Gallery Renovation
Whiting-Turner completed a 10,000 SF renovation on the second floor to create space for permanent and temporary exhibits. The work included demolition of the existing walls and ceilings, new museum-quality mechanical and electrical systems, floors, walls and ceilings, lighting systems, telecommunications/data and security.
Collections Storage and Winter Garden
This phase was the enclosure of a 2,700 SF interior courtyard with a new skylight, captured space, mechanical and electrical systems, and finishes. Museum support spaces were created for galleries completed in previous phases, including museum artifact pest mitigation, acclimatization, storage and a workshop area complete with security and climate control needs for museum collections.
Shrine Pool Infill
The Shrine pool infill involved the demolition of an on-structure water feature over occupied space to facilitate new waterproofing and building drainage. The pool was infilled with new stone pavers on pedestals and plaza planters. This phase also included fill and regrading of the lawn, as well as new stone stairs from the plaza to the lawn. Envelope repairs to the existing chapel wing included stone cladding and a roof replacement to correct various leaks.
