Our Work › Church Design › St. Peter Catholic Church

Church Design

The Sanctuary of St. Peter Catholic Church Slinger Wisconsin, looking towards the Altar
Location:
Slinger, WI
Scope:
Provided architectural design services for two approximately 6,000 sq. ft. additions
External Team:

St. Peter Catholic Church

Slinger, WI

St. Peter Parish came to PRA with great challenges to double seating capacity and build a faith formation facility without compromising the spaces historic, religious architectural beauty. In addition, parishioners of the church were rightfully concerned that the addition to the space would diminish is Liturgical expression and aesthetic of the existing church.

To achieve this goal and gain parishioner’s confidence, PRA and St. Peter Parish Long Range Planning Committee conducted interactive listening sessions, gaining input and ideas from parish members. Trust was built and the collaboration resulted in a concept that gained overwhelming support from the faith community.

Two approximately 6,000 sq. ft. additions were added to each side of the church on two levels. The lower level would become a religious education center with various classrooms, choir practice music rooms and commercial kitchen – complete with fryers for popular Lenten Friday Fish Fries. In the center, a Parish Hall serves as the Faith Formation Assembly space with seating for up to 250 tables. On the main level, the worship space added two transepts, designed to look as if they were a part of the original church but in return added 800 seats to the space. A large gathering area with a coffee station encourages fellowship before and after Mass and can be used as a meeting space for youth and young adults during the week.

St. Peter Catholic Church Exterior

The new front addition brings the façade of the church ri...

The new front addition brings the façade of the church right up to the sidewalk and street. The circular window in the front was designed so that existing stained glass could still be seen from outside

St. Peter Catholic Church Exterior

St. Peter Catholic Church Worship Space

The worship space features new pews and wood paneling to ...

The worship space features new pews and wood paneling to stay consistent with the original design

St. Peter Catholic Church Worship Space

St. Peter Catholic Church Stained Glass Door

The existing entrance opens to the new stairs. The origin...

The existing entrance opens to the new stairs. The original stained glass and woodwork was salvaged to preserve the original design, while new glass references the traditional form of a rose window.

St. Peter Catholic Church Stained Glass at the Narthex and reference to a rose window in the new exterior wall

St. Peter Catholic Church Exterior

The multiple additions provide a protected entry and stai...

The multiple additions provide a protected entry and staircase, expanded seating in the sanctuary, and a larger gathering space

St. Peter Catholic Church in Slinger Exterior

St. Peter Catholic Church Sanctuary

A new wood and glass wall provide access to the reconcili...

A new wood and glass wall provide access to the reconciliation chapel, bride’s room, and sacristy, while the center portion of the sanctuary was preserved. Modern technology is integrated to avoid disrupting views of symbolic references.

The Sanctuary of St. Peter Catholic Church in Slinger, Wisconsin integrates religious symbolism and modern technology.

St. Peter Catholic Church Stairs

A new front entry was added to enclose the previous exter...

A new front entry was added to enclose the previous exterior staircase, and to preserve the original architecture, the existing cream city bricks was exposed as much possible

Narthex stairs of St. Peter Catholic Church in Slinger, Wisconsin