About the Project
Built in 1951, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church’s aging organ needed replacement or a complete refurbishment. Parishioner support for the organ became the catalyst to upgrade the church’s interior and acoustics to complement the music from the newly refurbished organ.
Before this major renovation, organ music and singing were muffled by absorptive walls, ceiling and a partial wall at the front of the choir loft. The acoustics were improved by replacing the half-wall with an open, decorative metal railing. Wall materials were replaced with a beautiful new hard surface that reflects the music into the church. The sound system was also updated.
The church’s decades-old, flat ceiling was replaced in part with seamless acoustical material called Acoustibuilt. The installation of this specialized product was the first in Wichita, and an Armstrong specialist was onsite to oversee its installation.
Decorative coffered ceiling panels were built up with six different styles of wood trim and crown molding. The coffers’ details were enhanced with five colors of paint, including a metallic aged brass. The paint colors were influenced by the stations of the cross, stained glass windows and other original elements in the church. Eight energy-efficient, large three-tiered pendant lights create a brighter space and accentuate the beautiful ceiling. The ceiling treatment directs eyes upward and enhances the Sunday Mass experience.
The altar platform was extended to allow more space where the priest offers mass. The carpet on the entire altar was replaced with 5-foot-square, black tiles with marble veining. Large-format tiles minimize grout joints for a more monolithic look. These tiles are also low profile to meet existing threshold heights. The worn-out broadloom carpet was replaced with new carpet tiles underneath the pews.
