At the renovated St. James Episcopal Church, the first difference you’ll see is that you can see at all.
“Everyone that walks in, the things that stand out are the floors, the ability to see the ceiling, which you could not do before, and how clean and crisp it looks,” Reverend Chris Duncan told The Advocate. The Baton Rouge newspaper recently highlighted our work in the 125-year-old sanctuary, the first major renovation since the church was established in 1895.
Project architect Lisa Coco Hargrave credits the care and energy of the whole team. The brightened sanctuary is filled with fascinating details created in collaboration with key consultants and and a devoted congregation. The updates are aesthetic as well as structural. New sprinklers are artfully camouflaged against the ceiling’s impressive wooden arches. Restored floorboards gleam next to a new carpet design that celebrates symbols of the Episcopal church. Acoustic adjustments, made with BAi of Austin, respect the greater purpose of this building: with improved reverberation, spoken word rings out and songs reach high to the rafters.
We thank the enthusiastic members of St. James Episcopal, including Father Chris Duncan, John Soule, Denise Allen, Sue Larisey, Jacques Pourciau, John Sykes, and Gerry Sulzer. Our valued consultants include contractor Cangelosi Ward (Marc Lundin, Jeremy Cavin), Paul Allen Flooring, Avenue Rugs, BAi (acoustics), Mid South Church Construction, Southern Stucco and Plaster (Wayne Noble), Dykes Electric, Brasco (sprinklers), Lanehart (painting), ADG Engineering (Michael Terry, Bryan Brown, Salvatore Culotta) and Fox Nesbit (Travis Fox). And last but not least, our team members Lisa Coco Hargrave, Chris Doiron, Liz Spedale, Bryon Hume, Ken Tipton, Erin Morgan, and Kyle Daroca.