Cathedral of Saint John the Divine

Grounded in extensive research about the historical and technical issues related to the planning, design, and construction of the buildings of the Cathedral’s campus, called the “Close”, Ennead has worked closely with the leadership of the Cathedral to support their ongoing stewardship. Through our research we have examined the shifting vision, layers of authorship, and incremental construction which have evolved over more than a century into a rich and complex ensemble of buildings and landscape—today an architecturally unique and invaluable precinct in the City.

Extensive water infiltration due to the failing of successive short-term membrane roofs over the beloved (though technically temporary) Guastavino tile dome served as the impetus for a series of studies conducted by Ennead and our consultants. These studies ultimately led to the strategy of designing a longer-term batten-seam copper roof that fit in with the language of the adjacent historic copper roofs of the choir (renovated by Ennead in an earlier phase of work) and the nave. Care was taken to allow the tile dome with enough flexibility to expand and contract with the seasons. The new roof could easily last 100 years with proper maintenance, although in “cathedral time” this is just one step toward a possible future completion of the Crossing.