St. Bede Catholic Church

James City County, Virginia

The greatest compliment to a firm is repeated requests for continued services from the same client. Having previously provided forensic analysis and structural engineering services for the original St. Bede Catholic Church and campus buildings, The Structures Group, Inc. (TSG) was engaged again to provide additional services for a new Williamsburg church facility when the size of the St. Bede congregation outgrew the original building.

TSG provided Special Inspections as well as Independent Inspections for the new 38,280 square foot, Georgian style church building which was designed to seat 1,500 worshipers in the round within close proximity to the altar without visual obstructions. TSG also performed a structural analysis during the installation of an 8’ x 4’ processional organ which was mounted above the sanctuary entrance using steel framing connections. TSG’s structural review was used to assess the ability of the as-built elevated platform to support the weight of the organ once fully installed.

Most recently, TSG worked with Geier Brown Renfrow Architects out of Alexandria, Virginia on the design of a new Parish Life and Ministry Center addition. TSG provided the structural design for the proposed two (2) story, 46,000 square foot educational wing addition (above). The addition is designed to house 12 multi-purpose rooms to be used primarily as educational space, a music wing, administrative space, and a 4,500 square foot social hall with twenty-two (22) foot high ceilings.

Services Provided: Special Inspections, Independent Inspections, Structural Design, Structural Analysis