St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral is one of the most noteworthy churches in Buffalo. The original design was by Richard Upjohn in 1848, and construction was completed in 1870. After a devastating fire in 1888, it was rebuilt with some embellishments developed by Robert Wilson Gibson. The building is a warm medina sandstone and is adorned with lancet windows, pointed arches, pinnacles, crockets, buttresses, drip moldings, and delicate tracery. A 235 foot tower at the southwest corner serves as a beacon for the structure that includes a second smaller tower of 100 feet on the north end of a two-story chapel three bays long. The church is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Church is well maintained but nature had taken its toll on some areas of the building. Flynn Battaglia was asked to help in restoration of specific areas on the masonry exterior. A thorough masonry conditions report and mortar analysis was completed. As a result of the findings, it was decided to rebuild two original sandstone staircases, and repoint select areas including spires, finials, and pinnacles that had not been attended to since the 1889 reconstruction. Repairs were also made to select cracked areas in the masonry, as well as the replacement of disintegrating stone in various areas.
Two additional projects have continued the restoration process. The first addressed select windows in a number of locations which were noted to be in distress. The second was the all slate and copper roof replacement with in-kind materials.
Client: St. Paul's Church in Buffalo
Location: Buffalo, NY
Completion Date: 2005 - 2009
