The Proto-Cathedral of St. James the Greater Renovation

Description

The Proto-Cathedral in Vancouver, WA—over 130 years old and rooted in the early efforts of Mother Joseph—had long lacked adequate restroom facilities and accessible routes for parishioners. Previously, visitors needing restrooms had to use the parish hall’s facilities, located in the basement and only reachable via exterior stairs. Accessibility across the site was also limited, with only the eastern entrance offering an accessible path into the church.

The recently completed project addressed these challenges while preserving the historic integrity of the unreinforced masonry structure. Two new multi-stall restrooms, complete with changing tables, were added at the sanctuary level, significantly improving accessibility and comfort for parishioners. The addition, carefully integrated into the central piazza, was designed to minimize its visual impact from the public right-of-way while maximizing accessibility across the campus. A new stair and ramp system now provides a seamless connection between the church, the piazza, and the parish hall, and also accommodates the movement of caskets into the sanctuary, meeting both accessibility and functional needs.

Attributes