Newly exposed ceiling is illuminated with up-lights . roof deck was exposed and the original riveted steel trusses were painted . A new glass and steel addition to the north , which inflects toward the Shrine , provides a fully accessible entry for visitors .
Upon entering , visitors encounter familiar materials and forms recalling traditional basilicas . Like early churches in the New World , the sacred space is constructed with humble materials : wood , metal , and clay , elevated by prismatic forms bathed in natural light . Side chapels — newly highlighted with gossamer canopies of wire mesh , warm wood paneling , and LED lighting — provide places of devotion for visitors of multiple cultures . While dedicated to St . Joseph as a protector of the Virgin Mary , the chapel features saints from various cultures at each side chapel , reflecting an
open invitation to pilgrims from all backgrounds . The design offsets the seating along the outside aisles at each side chapel to allow worshippers space to pray at the side chapels without interrupting ongoing services .
As is typical in traditional pilgrimage churches , the main altar is raised above the main floor for visibility . Unconventionally , the new rear wall behind the altar conceals two ramps that make both surrounding platforms accessible to aging priests and parishioners alike . A new skylight , positioned above the altar , casts natural light on the altar — a universally understood design feature highlighting the most sacred place in the nave .
The new chapel resulted from the efforts of a caring community determined to make the best use of its available resources to elevate the spiritual experience of visiting pilgrims . Before the renovation , the parishioners casually referred to the space as “ El Gym .” However , after the Inaugural Mass that honored this “ new ” Shrine , they now refer to the space as the “ La Capilla de San Jose .” In several ways , the Chapel of St Joseph is a pledge of its own , the fulfillment of a promise , not only to Our Lady of Guadalupe but to its community , proving that a small group of people can make a global impact .
AUTHOR NOTE The author is an architect who practices with Wheeler Kearns Architects in Chicago and was Project Architect for the Chapel of St . Joseph at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe .
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