Constructed in 1915 as a parish church, the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Detroit, and on the national historic register of buildings. In recent years, the archdiocese decided to revitalize this beautiful structure, inside and out.

Working within a $15-million budget, Barton Malow and architect DiClemente Siegel completely renovated the church. The original altar was replaced with one of solid marble that extends into the congregation on a new marble floor, designed to match the original mosaic patterns. (Nine different types of marble, installed 80 years ago, had to be matched.) The substructure under the new altar was reinforced, copper roof replaced, rectory renovated, public restrooms expanded, and new open plaza constructed over a vacated city street.

The existing stonework was cleaned and repaired, inside and out. Before awarding the contract to clean the stone, Barton Malow compared methods by having mock-up samples cleaned. In the end, baking soda was used as a low-pressure blasting method; it was effective, economical, and environmentally gentle.

Now, as soon as you enter this building, you get that sense that you’re in some place special.