Sacred Heart Cathedral

Structural steel is being retrofitted with post-tensioned strands as the cathedral’s structural bones are strengthened and tied together. The pressed metal ceiling, one of the cathedral’s standout features, is also being restored. The internal and external masonry, a mixture of concrete and Oamaru stone, has deteriorated and cracked over the years and it is being restored and painted.

The building’s age plus intermittent phases of restrengthening over the years present ongoing challenges. A crew of seven-to-10 workers including stonemasons and painters is engaged on the $16.5 million project, which is being staged according to funding flows. The cathedral is on target to be fully restored by the end of 2024.