The Completed Cathedral Tower and Spire
The copper spire along with the brownstone veneer columns and finials have been up for a couple of weeks now. Jeni Rone of Sea Star Arts has photographed the completed cathedral and steeple for us.
A trip to the top of the steeple is not for the faint of heart, but those who have the opportunity to do so are rewarded with an extraordinary view of the gorgeous Charleston skyline and an up-close-and-personal look at the artistry of this magnificent spire. To see Jeni’s photo log of her trip to the top of the spire, visit this link: http://seastararts.smugmug.com/Events/St-John-The-Baptist-Steeple/11457538_t7U9P#824078003_zUhpt
All the pictures posted in this entry are copyrighted and displayed here by gracious permission from the photographer. Please contact Sea Star Arts for photo use information.
One of the major components of the steeple is the precast concrete. The bell section contains most of the precast and was very challenging to create. First, a sample wall panel and tower was made to recreate the color and finish required to match the existing brownstone. The form liners were cut on a CNC router and then epoxy coated and sanded to make the relief work. The reinforcing was installed and the forms were ready to pour. The individual pieces of precast which make up the bell section include wall panels, towers, buttresses, pinnacles, and finials.
