Religious

St. John the Evangelist

St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church
Prairieville, Louisiana
12,270 SF

As a follow-up to the Master Plan developed by CJA, the existing church was expanded on all four sides to include a new gathering foyer area with a baptismal font, sacristy area, cry room, restrooms and support spaces, an new transept with additional seating, expanded nave areas, and a new covered drop-off. The original church was designed by John Desmond, FAIA of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The additions and renovations were carefully implemented to compliment and respect the original design vocabulary.

St. John the Baptist

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
Brusly, Louisiana
9,169 SF

The renovations and additions for this 490 seat, Gothic-styled structure built in 1907 restored much of the original detailing. Based on photographs obtained from the church’s archives, the interior was restored with beaded board vaulted ceilings, detailed trim painting and gold leaf capitals, pine wood flooring, refinished original wood pews, refurbished altars and Stations of the Cross, and restored pendant light fixtures. A new gathering foyer, cry room, choir loft, organ, and an access stair were added at the front of the church with the front elevation completed replicated. A new limestone baptistry and font were added on the central axis of the church. A new communion sacristy, altar society, electrical and mechanical rooms were added at the back of the church. The original steeple, damaged and removed after a 1934 hurricane, was replaced with a new steeple which was replicated using archived photographs. A new annex and porte cochere utilize similar massing, detailing, and proportions and are connected to the church with a glassed wall connecting corridor. The church renovations and additions were part of a Master Plan completed by CJA.

St. Aloysius

St. Aloysius Catholic Church
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
15,650 SF

This new 850 seat church is organized on a central axis beginning at the bell tower and extending along a tree lined promenade through the new worship space and original church and terminates at the administration building. The new church plan includes a central nave with side transepts, a raised sanctuary platform, choir area and organ, a reconciliation room, baptistry and font, an altar sacristy, cry room, and mechanical / electrical spaces. The original church was renovated to serve as the Parish Hall and also includes a vesting sacristy, restrooms, bridal room, and a hospitality coffee area. The church renovations and additions were part of a Master Plan completed by CJA. A later renovation provided a new raised choir platform surrounding a new custom pipe organ.