Saint James Cathedral Portico

New rooftop light monitor and entry doors as part of a 254 SF alteration to the northeast entry vestibule at Saint James Cathedral in downtown Seattle, Washington.

A New Entry

St. James Cathedral found in recent years that instead of entering through the Ceremonial Bronze Entry doors on the west side of the Cathedral, most parishioners now arrive through the northeast entry facing Marion St. and Terry Ave. due to proximity to O’Dea parking surface lot and Cabrini parking garage. The northeast entry is accessible at grade, unlike the Ceremonial Entry Doors, which are accessed via stairs. The northeast entry doors were never intended as primary entry doors to the Cathedral. The proposal seeks to replace these doors with larger doors that clearly announce to visitors this new primary entrance.

The existing vestibule is dimly lit from the transom window above the existing entry doors. The proposed alterations feature a new 6’x6’ rooftop light monitor above the vestibule and additional interior lighting to help parishioners navigate the entryway. The light monitor will bring additional daylight into the vestibule, and at night, recessed light coves at the base of the monitor will illuminate from within, creating a “light beacon” effect announcing the new Entry location and the Cathedral’s presence as a spiritual “guiding light” for the First Hill community and City at large.

Liturgy and Theology

Proposed Saint James Entry Doors and Spiritual Journey: The design of the new doors feature “radiating scallop” fins crafted from naval brass, a pattern which references the scallop shell, an icon traditionally associated with the patron saint of the Cathedral, Saint James. The scallop shell has also been associated with the Camino de Santiago, or “Way of St. James,” a pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, the burial shrine of Saint James the Greater located in Spain. Pilgrims could be identified along the route wearing sea scallops and often used these shells to hold drinking water. On the exterior of the doors, the radiating scallop pattern converges upwards, symbolizing the convergence of the faithful to a spiritual destination. From the interior, the radiating pattern diverges upwards, symbolizing the divergence of the faithful into the community and world beyond. The custom wood door pulls will have a quatrefoil shape in cross section, which alludes to the shape of the existing Cathedral Baptismal Font and floor plan of the Cathedral itself.

Increased prominence of Proposed Holy Water Stoup and connection to Baptism: The existing holy water stoup, which is a vessel used to hold water for parishioners to bless themselves upon entry into the Cathedral, is discreetly located, and poorly lit, to the side of the vestibule. The proposal for a new holy water stoup expands the size to 6’ in length, allowing multiple visitors to use the stoup simultaneously as a collective gesture of faith. This holy water is a central part of Catholic faith as it alludes to the Sacrament of Baptism and the renewal of this faith upon every entry to the Cathedral. The stoup will be crafted out of Carrara marble, which is currently used throughout the Cathedral, including the existing Baptismal Font and Central Altar. Above the stoup will be an inscription with a verse from the Bible, fabricated out of bronze with a custom patina.

Emphasis on Light / Iconography of the Cross: Light plays a central role in the Catholic faith, symbolizing God and the divine, beginning with the Book of Genesis. The proposed light monitor above the entrance will illuminate the interior of the vestibule with diffuse north light, bringing daylight into the Cathedral like the Central Altar Oculus and Blessed Sacrament Chapel Oculus, both completed during Cathedral renovations in 1994. The glass panes of the light monitor are separated by bronze mullions in the configuration of the cross, a central icon in the Catholic faith. The same cross shape comprises the columns and beams of the monitor structure, allowing the iconography of the cross to read at multiple scales.

Client Saint James Cathedral
Design and Photography Gerrick Office
Construction Ferguson Construction
Structural Engineering Swenson Say Faget
Lighting Design Studio Lumen
Building Envelope RDH
Accessibility Studio Pacifica
Cathedral Architect Stephen Lee
Structural Steel Iron Star Welding
Metal Fabrication Decorative Metal Arts
Woodwork OB Williams
Windows Dynamic Fenestration
Glazing Pacific Glass and Door
Stone Fabrication Lambert Stoneworks
Inscription Artwork Robbie Schneider
Electrical Sequoyah Electric