St. Mary’s Church Lancaster, PA

Project Background

St. Mary’s Church, distinguished as the 4th oldest Catholic Church in the original 13 colonies, has a rich history in the City of Lancaster. Standing proudly at the corners of West Vine and South Prince Streets, the Enduring Legacy Project was born to improve accessibility and renovate campus facilities. A goal of $6.6M was set to ensure the St. Mary’s legacy continued. Communities near and far banned together and ground was broke in the Spring of 2016.

Accessibility to the nave of the church was paramount, followed by convent entrances on both West Vine and Beaver Streets. Our team constructed masonry clad ramps and cast stone caps at the chapel, adjacent convent and later at the Beaver Street entrance. Masonry clad walls were built on each side of the newly installed concrete stairs, improving access from Prince Street. The existing West Vine Street granite stairs were salvaged, modifi ed and reinstalled at the chapel and convent and replaced by a stunning radial brick veneer wall. Stone walls at both West Vine and Beaver Streets were extended, repaired and new cast stone caps were installed.

While the facade of St. Mary’s Church remains dominant, perched high above the Prince Street intersection, campus entrances on all sides now showcase much improved accessibility. The project celebrates the community that has cherished it, by offering spectacular new gathering points to worship.