In 2017, Father Rother\u2019s Rite of Beatification was held in downtown Oklahoma City, with an assembled audience of over 20,000 people from around the world. It stood to reason, then, that the creation of a local place of worship in his memory would attract a sizeable number of visitors. To do it justice would be no small undertaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spanning 4 years and 6,000 square feet, the ambitious plans for this project called for a church and main sanctuary with seating for more than 1,800 people, a chapel, ministry facilities, a welcome center, and a museum. All of which would, of course, require durable and reliable protection from the elements in order to thrive for years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But these aren\u2019t your everyday elements. The Oklahoma City metro area is subject to some of the most severe forms of weather, from hail to ice to blazing heat, not to mention being one of the largest tornado-prone areas in the country \u2014 and the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine was to reside directly at the center of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To make the build even more complex, the archdiocese wished to pay homage to Saint James the Apostle Catholic Church in Santiago Atitl\u00e1n, Guatemala, where Blessed Stanley Rother had served, by mirroring its Spanish Mission design style. The architectural challenges that accompanied this wish? The considerable length of the Shrine\u2019s roof and its multiple cupolas, which included a singular massive dome: the standout feature at the building\u2019s center that would defy any and all applications of traditional Spanish tile roofing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finding the Right Roof System<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/roofingmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Screenshot-2024-03-27-at-12.05.44\u202fPM-1200x815.png\")
Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine was designed to echo a Spanish Mission. It\u2019s roof system features Brava\u2019s composite tile and slate. Photos: Brava Roof Tile<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nWhen the Shrine first broke ground in the fall of 2019, word about the large-scale project spread quickly, fascinating the locals. \u201cThe community was really curious at first about the structure of this place,\u201d says the Shrine\u2019s Director of Pilgrimage, Jason Spoolstra. \u201cEspecially once they started seeing the frame and how massive this project was going to be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not surprisingly, the building\u2019s signature dome caused the greatest stir. \u201cThe roof hadn’t started to be placed on there yet; it was still a blue dome, and people were wondering, \u2018What is this place?\u2019\u201d says Spoolstra with a laugh. \u201cBut once people saw it they were just floored by it, and they were really excited to see the final project be finished.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The act of pilgrimage, a devotional practice consisting of a journey, blends the spiritual with the physical into a unified experience. The design and construction of the Shrine did much the same, marrying the archdiocese\u2019s objectives with the best building materials for the job. As Executive Director of the Shrine, Miguel Mireles was an integral part of it from the very beginning. Mireles worked to raise the money necessary to complete the build while advising on the roofing materials necessary to protect it day in and day out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn the early design stages,\u201d he says, \u201cwe knew when we were selecting something for our roof that it had to be durable, and also that traditional clay tiles would probably not work due to the environment they would be in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keeping to the archdiocese\u2019s desire to replicate the look of authentic Spanish tile, however, was paramount. During the selection process, which included advisement from several architects, the Brava name was offered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c[Brava] had a product we could actually use for our roof and give that traditional clay tile look, but be able to withstand the many, many elements that happen here,\u201d says Mireles. \u201cIn selecting Brava<\/a>, the specs that really spoke to us the most [were] its ability to withstand severe weather and also the sunlight, maintaining the integrity and color for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nNo matter the elements on any particular day, all visitors to the Shrine are greeted at its pilgrim center, which serves as a gateway to the church and the chapel. Opposite the main building, a paved path surrounded by native grasses and plants takes you 50 feet up Tepeyac Hill, a re-creation of the site in Mexico City where Mary appeared to Saint Juan Diego in 1531. There, pilgrims can pause to reflect while taking in the astonishing views of the grounds \u2014 and of the Shrine\u2019s immense roof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Brava roofing is really the very first thing that people track to, their eyes are immediately captivated,\u201d says Spoolstra. \u201cTheir heads turn and [he makes a whoosh sound] \u2018What is that place?\u2019 and they’re struck by the beauty of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Considering Weight<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nThe Shrine faced another issue when it came to choosing the right materials for its sprawling, challenging roof: the weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Dome wasn’t engineered to be able to hold the weight of real slate, and so to be able to still get the slate look \u2014 enter Brava,\u201d says Paul Goodman, majority owner and CEO of Goodman Construction, which specializes in high-end unique and experimental roofs. His company was engaged early on in the project to help determine what the Shrine\u2019s roof covering could, and could not, be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBrava Tile\u2019s products allowed the Shrine to be able to have that slate look without having to spend a huge amount of money to design the structure to be able to hold the weight of real slate,\u201d notes Goodman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Brava composite roofing tiles chosen for the project provide all the warmth and beauty of Spanish clay tile and the elegance and durability of natural slate but in a lightweight synthetic material, which met the client\u2019s needs while helping decrease both roof maintenance and installation labor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not nearly as heavy as traditional tile is, or traditional slate,\u201d Goodman explains. \u201cThat makes it easier on the guys to install, but it also means less expense in terms of heavy equipment \u2026 which also means that the wear and tear on the grounds is a lot less, because this stuff can be walked up a ladder. All of that translates into faster install times.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine install was the first time Goodman\u2019s company utilized Brava roofing, applying both its Slate and Tile profiles. \u201cWe used them in some fairly creative ways, both in terms of large scale as well as multiple compound radiuses, which you’ll see on the domes and on the front of the building,\u201d recalls Goodman. \u201cWe really, really got to put it through its paces.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As for the Shrine\u2019s larger-than-life dome? Brava even went as far as to build a version of it at their manufacturing plant to perform test installs \u2014 and the results speak for themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine was carefully and respectfully designed to honor both the martyr\u2019s life and his mission. But it has another, perhaps equally sacred purpose: to be of service to those who travel from near and far in order to observe, to learn, and to grow closer to their faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere are two churches, Sacred Heart and Holy Angels, that now come here on Sundays to celebrate their masses,\u201d says Spoolstra. \u201cIt’s like home to them. And I know for a lot of people, they come here to walk the grounds for their daily walk and exercise or come to mass every day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Coming Together<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s the fulfillment of a goal established years prior, to have people from all across the globe come together to celebrate Blessed Stanley and worship underneath the same roof. \u201cFor me to have this little, small part as the director of pilgrimage here to welcome thousands and thousands of people every year to come and see this beautiful shrine, to see the architecture, to see Blessed Stanley \u2014 it\u2019s such a blessing,\u201d says Spoolstra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mireles feels very much the same about the people and the building itself. \u201cIt\u2019s a true vocation for me to be part of the team here and to work for the church \u2026 and now, seeing the finished shrine, it’s just very rewarding to my heart and to my faith to see folks come and experience, and maybe for the first time, their faith deepen,\u201d Mireles says. \u201cBrava was able to perform and bring us the product that we did need to be able to open up a beautiful space for folks to come and visit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as Blessed Stanley Rother left behind a memorable, lasting legacy, so, too, will this very unique and special place. You can hear the pride in his voice as Mireles describes the countless numbers that will take what they learn here, expand upon it, and share it with others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the biggest reward \u2014 when you say \u2018Oklahoma City\u2019 to have people say, \u2018Oh, that\u2019s where the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine is,\u2019\u201d says Mireles. \u201cPeople can feel comfortable and excited to see a beautiful roof on a beautiful place. That’s why we selected Brava, and we would definitely share that with folks to say, \u2018Use Brava, and your needs can be met by them as well.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TEAM<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nRoofing Contractor:<\/strong> Goodman Construction, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, goodmanconstructionok.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nMATERIALS<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
When the Shrine first broke ground in the fall of 2019, word about the large-scale project spread quickly, fascinating the locals. \u201cThe community was really curious at first about the structure of this place,\u201d says the Shrine\u2019s Director of Pilgrimage, Jason Spoolstra. \u201cEspecially once they started seeing the frame and how massive this project was going to be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not surprisingly, the building\u2019s signature dome caused the greatest stir. \u201cThe roof hadn’t started to be placed on there yet; it was still a blue dome, and people were wondering, \u2018What is this place?\u2019\u201d says Spoolstra with a laugh. \u201cBut once people saw it they were just floored by it, and they were really excited to see the final project be finished.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The act of pilgrimage, a devotional practice consisting of a journey, blends the spiritual with the physical into a unified experience. The design and construction of the Shrine did much the same, marrying the archdiocese\u2019s objectives with the best building materials for the job. As Executive Director of the Shrine, Miguel Mireles was an integral part of it from the very beginning. Mireles worked to raise the money necessary to complete the build while advising on the roofing materials necessary to protect it day in and day out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn the early design stages,\u201d he says, \u201cwe knew when we were selecting something for our roof that it had to be durable, and also that traditional clay tiles would probably not work due to the environment they would be in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keeping to the archdiocese\u2019s desire to replicate the look of authentic Spanish tile, however, was paramount. During the selection process, which included advisement from several architects, the Brava name was offered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c[Brava] had a product we could actually use for our roof and give that traditional clay tile look, but be able to withstand the many, many elements that happen here,\u201d says Mireles. \u201cIn selecting Brava<\/a>, the specs that really spoke to us the most [were] its ability to withstand severe weather and also the sunlight, maintaining the integrity and color for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n No matter the elements on any particular day, all visitors to the Shrine are greeted at its pilgrim center, which serves as a gateway to the church and the chapel. Opposite the main building, a paved path surrounded by native grasses and plants takes you 50 feet up Tepeyac Hill, a re-creation of the site in Mexico City where Mary appeared to Saint Juan Diego in 1531. There, pilgrims can pause to reflect while taking in the astonishing views of the grounds \u2014 and of the Shrine\u2019s immense roof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Brava roofing is really the very first thing that people track to, their eyes are immediately captivated,\u201d says Spoolstra. \u201cTheir heads turn and [he makes a whoosh sound] \u2018What is that place?\u2019 and they’re struck by the beauty of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Shrine faced another issue when it came to choosing the right materials for its sprawling, challenging roof: the weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Dome wasn’t engineered to be able to hold the weight of real slate, and so to be able to still get the slate look \u2014 enter Brava,\u201d says Paul Goodman, majority owner and CEO of Goodman Construction, which specializes in high-end unique and experimental roofs. His company was engaged early on in the project to help determine what the Shrine\u2019s roof covering could, and could not, be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBrava Tile\u2019s products allowed the Shrine to be able to have that slate look without having to spend a huge amount of money to design the structure to be able to hold the weight of real slate,\u201d notes Goodman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Brava composite roofing tiles chosen for the project provide all the warmth and beauty of Spanish clay tile and the elegance and durability of natural slate but in a lightweight synthetic material, which met the client\u2019s needs while helping decrease both roof maintenance and installation labor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s not nearly as heavy as traditional tile is, or traditional slate,\u201d Goodman explains. \u201cThat makes it easier on the guys to install, but it also means less expense in terms of heavy equipment \u2026 which also means that the wear and tear on the grounds is a lot less, because this stuff can be walked up a ladder. All of that translates into faster install times.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine install was the first time Goodman\u2019s company utilized Brava roofing, applying both its Slate and Tile profiles. \u201cWe used them in some fairly creative ways, both in terms of large scale as well as multiple compound radiuses, which you’ll see on the domes and on the front of the building,\u201d recalls Goodman. \u201cWe really, really got to put it through its paces.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the Shrine\u2019s larger-than-life dome? Brava even went as far as to build a version of it at their manufacturing plant to perform test installs \u2014 and the results speak for themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine was carefully and respectfully designed to honor both the martyr\u2019s life and his mission. But it has another, perhaps equally sacred purpose: to be of service to those who travel from near and far in order to observe, to learn, and to grow closer to their faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere are two churches, Sacred Heart and Holy Angels, that now come here on Sundays to celebrate their masses,\u201d says Spoolstra. \u201cIt’s like home to them. And I know for a lot of people, they come here to walk the grounds for their daily walk and exercise or come to mass every day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s the fulfillment of a goal established years prior, to have people from all across the globe come together to celebrate Blessed Stanley and worship underneath the same roof. \u201cFor me to have this little, small part as the director of pilgrimage here to welcome thousands and thousands of people every year to come and see this beautiful shrine, to see the architecture, to see Blessed Stanley \u2014 it\u2019s such a blessing,\u201d says Spoolstra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mireles feels very much the same about the people and the building itself. \u201cIt\u2019s a true vocation for me to be part of the team here and to work for the church \u2026 and now, seeing the finished shrine, it’s just very rewarding to my heart and to my faith to see folks come and experience, and maybe for the first time, their faith deepen,\u201d Mireles says. \u201cBrava was able to perform and bring us the product that we did need to be able to open up a beautiful space for folks to come and visit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just as Blessed Stanley Rother left behind a memorable, lasting legacy, so, too, will this very unique and special place. You can hear the pride in his voice as Mireles describes the countless numbers that will take what they learn here, expand upon it, and share it with others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s the biggest reward \u2014 when you say \u2018Oklahoma City\u2019 to have people say, \u2018Oh, that\u2019s where the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine is,\u2019\u201d says Mireles. \u201cPeople can feel comfortable and excited to see a beautiful roof on a beautiful place. That’s why we selected Brava, and we would definitely share that with folks to say, \u2018Use Brava, and your needs can be met by them as well.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Roofing Contractor:<\/strong> Goodman Construction, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, goodmanconstructionok.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nConsidering Weight<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Coming Together<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
TEAM<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
MATERIALS<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n