Sacred Heart Catholic Church/ All Trades

Biller Reinhart Engineering Group provided structural engineering services to guide the careful reinstallation of a historic copper cross with an octagonal base shroud on the peak west elevation gable of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

With the original steel base plate and anchors substantially corroded, the assignment required a solution that respected the landmark’s character while providing reliable, modern support. The work included document review, a site investigation, conceptual design, and preliminary gravity and wind load analyses.

The team then developed engineered shop drawings for new supports, framing, anchors, attachment details, and a concealed center post designed to secure the cross within its existing copper plate shell. Spring mechanisms were designed to stabilize the cross from within without fasteners puncturing through the exterior surfaces. The services also included construction-phase site visits and coordination during reinstallation, helping translate the design into a practical restoration approach. The result was a thoughtful balance of preservation, structural performance, and constructability for one of the church’s most visible architectural features.