Interview with Dome Designer of the National Shrine

Some news on the home-front, but significant for the Church in America.

See the dome which is empty? The picture doesn't show it well - but it's by far the largest in the church. It is the last and final internal beautification project of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC.

Local blogger William Newton interviews one of the CUA students competing to design it:

Ryan and his colleague, John-Paul Mikolajczyk, gained national attention for the liturgical furniture they designed, which was used by Pope Benedict XVI for the Papal Mass here in Nationals Stadium last April. Ryan is currently pursuing graduate studies in architecture at Catholic University of America.

Ryan and JP were recently short-listed as one of four entry finalists in a student competition for the conceptual design of the interior of the Trinity Dome of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception here in Washington, D.C. Images of their submission appear at the end of this interview. The Shrine, which was named a minor basilica in 1990, is the largest church in the Western Hemisphere. The enormous central Trinity dome remains unfinished on the interior of the church and is the subject of this competition, which will be decided on March 23rd.

[Read the interview and scroll down to the bottom for pictures of their proposal.]

The Dome Competition has its own page on the Catholic University of America website.

[Photo credit: mbell1975]