OUR CHALLENGE: Bring the Cathedral Church of St. Pete bell tower back to life. A 2015 lightning strike stopped the carillon, and years of exposure left cracked and displaced bricks, deteriorated mortar, water intrusion, and concerns about a damaged support beam. The challenge: make it safe and sound so the bells can ring again.
OUR APPROACH: We started by studying everything we could find on the tower: old reports, plans, and field notes, and then sketched a practical stabilization concept. We ran the structural calculations to confirm what the tower truly needed, designed clear brick-repair details and step-by-step protocols to stop cracking and moisture, and wrapped it all in build-ready drawings and specs so that the contractor could restore the bell tower safely and confidently.
THE OUTCOME: The Cathedral Church of St. Pete bell tower is stabilized for the long run, cracked masonry repaired, joints sealed, and supports reinforced. It’s ready for the carillon to sing again. Most importantly, church attendants and visitors now have a solid, safe structure they can trust for years to come.