ST RAPHAEL'S CATHEDRAL

St. Raphael’s Cathedral, built between 1851 and 1876 in the Gothic Revival style, stands as a landmark of historic architecture in Dubuque. With its steep gabled roofs and timeless design, it continues to serve as the Catholic cathedral and parish church for the Archdiocese of Dubuque.

 

In 2020, Gronen completed a full assessment of the cathedral campus, identifying opportunities to preserve its historic character while upgrading infrastructure for the future. Due to the scope of work, the project was organized into three carefully planned phases.

 

Phase One (2021) focused on revitalizing the campus grounds. This included water mitigation through new storm and sanitary systems, replacement of all concrete parking lots, thoughtfully designed landscaping, and the reconstruction of a limestone retaining wall—laying the foundation for the preservation work to come.

 

Phase Two (2023) focused on restoring and elevating the campus exteriors with careful attention to detail. Decorative metal shingle roofs with integrated copper gutters were installed, and masonry was thoughtfully restored across the church, event, and rectory buildings. Stained glass and original wood windows were preserved and rehabilitated to maintain their historic character. The cathedral’s limestone façade and historic steeple were also restored, reinforcing these defining architectural elements and ensuring their longevity for years to come.

 

Phase Three (2024–2026) focused on comprehensive interior restoration across the campus. At the Event Center, work included plaster repair, redesigned restrooms and a kitchenette, selective exposure of historic architectural elements, stained glass restoration, fresh paint, and new flooring.

 

Within the church, the sanctuary, nave, and sacristy underwent extensive rehabilitation. Improvements included plaster restoration, structural floor reinforcement, artisan-led decorative painting by Conrad Schmidt, replacement and refinishing of maple flooring, added marble detailing at the altar, and the careful relocation of the original casework altar wall to its historic position. Updated lighting completed the work, supporting both preservation and long-term functionality.

 

The project concluded in the Spring of 2026 with elevator upgrades and additional code compliance. Through these thoughtful phases, St. Raphael’s Cathedral has been preserved as a treasured landmark while meeting the needs of its congregation for generations to come.