AWARD FOR RELIGIOUS ARCHITECTURE: RESTORATION
First Christian Church Tower Restoration Louis Joyner Architect Columbus, IN
First Christian Church, a National Historic Landmark by Eliel and Eero Saarinen, was completed in 1942, the first of many works of modern architecture in Columbus, Indiana. The church clock tower is a landmark in the skyline and an important part of the remarkable building and the urban composition, along with I. M. Pei’ s nearby library and plaza.
In 1945, cracks appeared in the 166-foot tower, requiring frequent repairs to address excessive movement and water infiltration. In 2019, a new assessment recommended a comprehensive renovation.
The project team followed the Secretary of the Interior’ s Standards for historic properties and respected the Saarinens’ intent. In the upper third of the tower, flexure resulted in extensive cracking, delamination, and water infiltration. Stabilization required reconstruction of the entire grid, backed by masonry to transfer torsional forces. Limestone panels installed in the reconstructed grid mirror the design of long-gone concrete grilles. Other work included brick replacement, new anchors and ties, and concrete and crack repair. The historic door was restored, and robust ventilation manages excessive condensation.
The $ 3 million project cost was offset by robust commu-
nity support and grants from the National Fund for Sacred Places, the National Park Service, and Jeffris Family Foundation.
JURY COMMENTS: It is wonderful to see that this modern landmark church is receiving such thoughtful care. It is a feature in the historic modernist town of Columbus.
Adam Reynolds
AWARD FOR RELIGIOUS ARCHITECTURE: RESTORATION
Tabernacle at Oak Bluffs DBVW Architects / Martha Werenfels, FAIA Oak Bluffs, Martha’ s Vineyard, MA
The wrought-iron tabernacle has been a landmark within the town of Oak Bluffs on the island of Martha’ s Vineyard since 1879. Standing in the center of Trinity Park, this 100-foot-diameter and 100-foot-high structure has accommodated countless musical performances, religious ceremonies, and“ community sings” over the years. The open-air tabernacle sits in a park surrounded by approximately 300 diminutive Victorian cottages and acts as a landmark from the water, where sailors use it for wayfinding.
Restoration of the tabernacle involved finding appropriate treatments for several unusual aspects of the original and updated construction. All of the wrought-iron structure was stripped, repaired, reinforced, and repainted along with restoration of the stained-glass windows. The cupola was returned to its original configuration and detailing along with a new, historically appropriate carbon-fiber cross and new architectural illumination to enhance the building’ s nighttime presence. In the last phase of work, new corrugated roofing was installed on all three levels of the original tiered structure.
JURY COMMENTS: A beautiful space, filled with history, that has now been reborn with care, attentive to every detail. It is the very center of this community.
Heidi Gumula
22 SACRED PLACES • SUMMER 2025