CORPUS CHRISTI BEGINS SOUTH TOWER RESTORATION
High Profile Project Expected to be Completed by Year’s End
Buffalo, New York – Corpus Christi’s historic restoration is about to take a tremendous step forward with the announcement that repair and rebuilding of the church’s south tower is expected to begin in August.
The proposed project is Phase II of a multi-phase, multi-million dollar program to restore the main components of the church’s exterior envelope. A Facility Assessment Report of the Campus in 2004 and an engineering report on the bell/clock towers in 2006 documented most of the required work. In each case, extensive stone restoration consisting of re-pointing and re-building some areas to prevent weather infiltration was recommended. In addition, the 2006 report emphasized the need for structural repairs to address the deterioration of the wood and steel sub frame, and stone around the base of the towers’ copper domes.
The scope of work is based on the need to correct damage from a wind storm in December 2008, along with diminished structural integrity of the cupola related to its age and exposure to the elements. While intermediate steps have been taken to ease these situations for the short term, they are temporary, “band-aid” solutions that must be addressed in a much more comprehensive manner for public safety and the long-term stewardship of the church.
