Rebuilding

New speakers were installed yesterday in the Sanctuary🔊👍️

These additions, while new, are custom-made for our space and historically aligned with of the rest of the Sanctuary, designed by Lella and Massimo Vignelli and opened in 1977. The speaker box is built off the original Vignelli drawings, made with their proportions and materials, while the electronics utilize modern, state-of-the-art technology to deliver superb sound.

The organ is functional, and will continue to be assembled and voiced in the following weeks.

More pews arrive in the new year, filling up the risers.

The Sanctuary includes historical replicas and refurbished furniture of the original design.

With the organ largely assembled, we are back to worshipping in our Sanctuary! We are waiting on the final installation of internal pipes, organ tuning, and church pews!

With the organ largely assembled, we are back to worshipping in our Sanctuary! We are waiting on the final installation of internal pipes, organ tuning, and church pews!

With the organ largely assembled, we are back to worshipping in our Sanctuary! We are waiting on the final installation of internal pipes, organ tuning, and church pews!

With the organ largely assembled, we are back to worshipping in our Sanctuary! We are waiting on the final installation of internal pipes, organ tuning, and church pews!

The organ being reinstalled, returning as an important musical element and focal point for our Sanctuary.

The organ being reinstalled, returning as an important musical element and focal point for our Sanctuary.

The organ being reinstalled, returning as an important musical element and focal point for our Sanctuary.

The organ as viewable from the corner of 54th Street and Lexington Avenue.

These two sides of the Sanctuary wooden riser seating are back in place this week.

The organ rebuild continues.

Organ installation continues according to schedule this week.

Organ installation continues according to schedule this week.

This morning the organ rolled up in an 18-wheeler and it has been carted bit-by-bit into the building today!

This morning the organ rolled up in an 18-wheeler and it has been carted bit-by-bit into the building today!

This morning the organ rolled up in an 18-wheeler and it has been carted bit-by-bit into the building today!

This morning the organ rolled up in an 18-wheeler and it has been carted bit-by-bit into the building today!

This morning the organ rolled up in an 18-wheeler and it has been carted bit-by-bit into the building today!

This morning the organ rolled up in an 18-wheeler and it has been carted bit-by-bit into the building today!

The woodwork in the sanctuary is being reinstalled this week.

Sanding, painting, and reinstalling underway this week.

The windows in Nevelson Chapel are being replaced today. The skylight window work was mostly done on Friday and is being completed today. The entire "storefront" window replacement is happening today. This is part of the ongoing restoration of the iconic chapel.

On Wednesday, October 12, a group of volunteers unveiled the exterior cross at Saint Peter's! The cross, designed by Italian-born sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro, had been covered for its protection while the sidewalk shed was up, and the roof being worked on, for over a year. It is so good to see the cross again, and also to see the small front garden being prepared for a rededication this coming Sunday.

The construction of the speaker cabinets for the sanctuary has begun. They have been designed by Angela Scott Wolf, our historic preservation consultant, in consultation with Dana Kierkegaard, our acoustician, and the cabinet makers at the Fisk shop. They are based on a thorough study of the church’s original speakers, all while providing the necessary technical upgrades and structural fixes.

The sidewalk shed has been removed from the exterior of the church. It’s great to see the front of the building again!

The scaffolding in the interior of the sanctuary has been taken down.

The last piece of sidewalk shed to come down on Wednesday, September 28.

The flood cuts to the sanctuary walls are being repaired this week.

Workers have removed sheetrock on walls that will be rebuilt with materials that will improve the acoustical response of the Sanctuary.

We are using the 1977 Sanctuary design plans to bring back the original spacing of lights and speakers in the lower ceiling, which was lost over decades of repairs and reconstructions.

Work underway in close consultation with Keck Group and the rest of our rebuild team to insure organ woodwork matches the Sanctuary riser seating.

On Wednesday, August 24, the new skylight glass was installed.

Workers on scaffolding prepare the winch for lifting the new skylight glass to the roof on the morning of August 15.

New skylight glass (in the wood casing on the right) arrives in New York, to be installed next week.

As the roof treatments are completed, some of the scaffolding can come down. All of the scaffolding in front of the entrance to 601 came down this week.

A fully cleaned and restored pew, with leg strengthened internally.

Site visit to the Keck Group.

A section of Keck’s vast workshop presently housing some five large-scale projects.

A bathtub for wood. Chemicals are disposed of according to Federal standards and wood is air-dried naturally.

Pastor Stahler and members of the Keck Group discussing details of the bleacher seating.

Can you see the bleacher safety mechanism? No, because it is brilliantly concealed in the recess!

Matching color tones across several wood components.

A newly-manufactured piece of pew kneeler hardware.

Pastor Stahler and Bob Keck on FaceTime with Michael Kraft, president of the C.B. Fisk Organ company, reviewing details of the finish for the organ console and the bleacher seating.

Inspecting the hand-made caps that will be the very last element applied when the bleacher system is reinstalled Fall 2022.

Keck conference room with detailed drawings of Saint Peter’s and a volume celebrating Keck and other expert’s contribution to the restoration of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.

Sheetrock removal has been completed in the Sanctuary. Some of the removal was for the curtain wall investigation and other removal per recommendations for flood cuts in the hygienist's report.

Sheetrock removal has been completed in the Sanctuary. Some of the removal was for the curtain wall investigation and other removal per recommendations for flood cuts in the hygienist's report.

The drains and heat trace work on the building exterior was completed this week. In this photo, a CANY worker ascends the scaffolding on Wednesday to inspect the work.

Application of 3M UV Window Film to the vertical windows of the Sanctuary will be completed this week.

A rare view of the very top of the Sanctuary. Workers have started opening walls to access piping to address drainage.

The scaffolding build in the Sanctuary is now complete.

Scaffolding is rising to the upper reaches of the Sanctuary this week.

Spring Scaffolding assembles the scaffolding in the Sanctuary.

Spring Scaffolding assembles the scaffolding in the Sanctuary.

Spring Scaffolding assembles the scaffolding in the Sanctuary.

Spring Scaffolding assembles the scaffolding in the Sanctuary.

Spring Scaffolding assembles the scaffolding in the Sanctuary.

Spring Scaffolding assembles the scaffolding in the Sanctuary.

Spring Scaffolding assembles the scaffolding in the Sanctuary.

The riser system has been completely removed in preparation for cleaning the Sanctuary floor.

The glass for the skylights has arrived in New York, and will be installed soon.

Wood from the Sanctuary is organized on the Balcony to be shipped out for restoration by The Keck Group, Inc.

Balcony view of The Keck Group, Inc. at work in the Sanctuary.

The Keck Group Inc. removes the woodwork in the sanctuary for restoration.