St. Paul the Apostle Dedication Video

Video of Central Ohio Catholic Diocesan priests arriving for the June 29, 2011 dedication of St. Paul the Apostle Church in Westerville, Ohio.

Meleca Designs featured in Columbus CEO Magazine Guide

Columbus CEO June 2011 edition features an Economic Development Guide for the region. 

Nice to see that two of the photo's used for this marketing tool are David Meleca designed buildings. 

National Recognition for St. Paul the Apostle

The first installment of Dr. Denis McNamara of the Liturgical Institute- reviewing St. Paul the Apostle's church design as featured in the Creative Minority Report.






I have had the good fortune to play a very minor consulting role in the new Catholic church of St. Paul the Apostle in Westerville, Ohio, which will be dedicated on June 29th. Its architect, David Meleca of Columbus, has been something of a "sleeper" in the field of new Catholic church design. Though less well-known than some of the church architects centered at Notre Dame, his portfolio list an impressive body of traditional church design. CMR readers may remember him as the architect of St. Michael the Archangel Church in Kansas, chronicled here.
One of the distinguishing features of Meleca's work is a highly synthetic approach to combining the classical tradition with the liturgical requests of today's mainstream clients.

To read the rest of the article :


New Catholic Church in Ohio: St. Paul the Apostle

Creative Minority Report Part 2 - St. Paul the Apostle

Dr. Denis McNamara is faculty member and assistant director at the Liturgical Institute in Mundelein, IL, and featured the following on St. Paul the Apostle on the Creative Minority Report.  

Last week I posted an introduction to the new St. Paul the Apostle Catholic church in Westerville, Ohio, just outside of Columbus. Its architect, David Meleca, has designed a number of classical and traditional churches over the last decade, and recently posted some new pictures on his blog. The church draws from several Romanesque traditions: Italian, German and the Richardsonian Romanesque.

One of the fine features of this church is its consistency of design, with furnishings designed and/or supervised by the architecture firm for quality control. This post will show the fine level of design and craft in the church's baptistery.     










More from St. Paul Church, Westerville, Ohio featured in the Creative Minority Report....

Romanesque Revival Architecture Inspires St. Paul Design

Construction on St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Westerville, Ohio is nearly complete.



St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Westerville, Ohio, designed by David Meleca



David Meleca's design inspiration for the 38,000 square foot church came from Romanesque Revival architecture, also known as the Richardsonian Romanesque style, named after architect Henry Hobson Richardson.  

Norman architecture, a Romanesque style, primarily English -  is another example of work which influenced Meleca's design.   This YouTube video of the Norman Chapel at the Tower of London shows similar rounded arches over windows and doorways.


One book Meleca sourced was "Henry Hobson Richardson, A Genius for Architecture".   Richardson's R. and F. Cheney Building, in Hartford, Connecticut influenced the exterior styling of St. Paul's.  You can see similarity in the arches over the windows. 

R & F Cheney Building, Hartford Connecticut, designed by H.H. Richardson

 



St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Westerville, Ohio, designed by David Meleca




St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Westerville, Ohio, designed by David Meleca

Romanesque Revival is inspired from the Romanesque style.  Unlike the Romanesque style though, Romanesque Revival buildings feature more simplified arches and windows. 



The interior features similar arches and columns throughout.  Meleca wanted to create an inviting liturgical space, similar to the feel of St. Therese's Retreat Center in Columbus, Ohio.




St. Therese's Retreat Center, Columbus, Ohio



St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Westerville, Ohio designed by David Meleca

Color and detail recommendations for the mural behind St. Paul's altar, designed by EverGreene Architectural Arts out of New York City, was inspired from St. Pankraz Innen Church in Germany.





St. Pankraz Innen, Germany





Mural behind Altar - St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Westerville, Ohio



Mural - St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Westerville, Ohio



Mural - St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Westerville, Ohio

 



Columbus Commons - Another Project for the Files

A few months back we featured Columbus, Ohio projects proposed but never built.  

Now that we're sure this Columbus Commons design is headed for the same file, we can share.   These designs were in response to a request for proposals by downtown leaders.  The site is at the corner of S. High and Rich Streets.

While Meleca's concept was selected - for several reasons the project stalled.


First Columbus Commons Proposed Design

 
This first concept shows three mixed use buildings.  Retail on ground level with housing on upper floors. 



Second Columbus Commons Proposed Design


This second design concept shows two mix-use buildings with a free standing restaurant in middle.



Columbus Commons Proposed Design



Mix-use Elevation Building 1

Mix-use Elevation Building 1 - No Set Back

Free Standing Restaurant Concept

Artist renderings by Paul W. Kelley.

New Photo's - St. Paul's Church

Even before construction is complete, we are already hearing tremendous feedback regarding St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Westerville, Ohio.   It's nice to hear this project called a "masterpiece" from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus. 

Here are the latest photo's of the project: 

Looking at Choir Loft



View from Dome looking down on Altar steps and Baptismal Font in distance




View of Altar



The 38,000 square foot church will seat between 1450-1650 people.

St. Paul "Finial" Touches

The Finials have been installed at St. Paul's the Apostle in Westerville, Ohio.

The finials are made of copper covered with gold leaf.  You can see in the photo below, the top of the finial has gold leaf applied, the bottom part still copper. 

The finials were manufactured by Copper Craft out of Texas.  There are a total of two, placed on top both corner side chapels.

St. Paul Altar of Sacrifice

In less than three months, the new St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Westerville, Ohio will be dedicated.   The church's new altar of sacrifice is designed by David Meleca - shown below. 




The altar is made of Jerusalem limestone - built by hand in Jerusalem by Jerusalem Gardens Stone Works.  Dimensions are, 8’-10” wide  x 4’-4” deep x 3’-4” high.

The altar will arrive to the U.S. via ship, with each section packed in separate cargo containers.   It will then be assembled at the church in Westerville.

Cathedral Steps

Meleca Architecture is assisting in the replacing of the St. Joseph Cathedral steps in downtown Columbus, Ohio. 

East Broad Street Entrance



Main entrance on E. Broad Street



The steps will be replaced using the same material - Columbus limestone.  Below is a close-up of this rare stone.   
   

North Shore Stone Quarries of northern Ohio is the only company who mines the stone.  It comes from their quarry near Lake Erie.  Columbus limestone is also used in the Ohio Statehouse, which is located just down the street from the Gothic designed Cathedral. 

The steps facing E. Broad Street are scheduled to be completed in time for Easter Service.  The steps facing the east will be completed by May.

SafeAuto Headquarter's Featured

Have you seen the recent SafeAuto commercial?  It's the one which features the company's Columbus, Ohio headquarters designed by Meleca Architecture.

Click video below to check it out -

 SafeAuto Headquarters designed by Meleca Architecture

St. Paul Catholic Church Update

In four months, St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Westerville, Ohio will be completed.  Dedication is scheduled for the end of June.  Here's how the church looks so far.

View looking at choir loft



View from choir loft looking at alter