By Marlene Quaroni - Florida Catholic

MIAMI | St. Mary Cathedral is going green.

“In keeping with Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’, on the environment and human ecology, we made sure that much-needed renovations to the structure are environmentally-friendly,” said Ruben Jimenez, business operations manager at the cathedral and cathedral school.

The renovations, begun this spring, include replacing the roof, painting the exterior of the cathedral, replacing the lights, changing the sound system, re-staining all the exterior mahogany doors, and lighting the bell tower and dome. The work should be finished by the end of August.

“The cathedral was completed in 1957 and still had the original roof,” said Jimenez. “There were many leaks in the ceiling and raindrops would fall on the main altar. Pieces of the ceiling were coming off where there were leaks. It was a nightmare. We had to put buckets under the leaks.”

New, 5-inch foam insulation under the roof tiles and reflective white material and energy-efficient LED lights should result in lower energy bills.

“I can’t wait to see the new electric bill,” said Jimenez.

Although the lights, sound system and choir loft acoustics were improved, church administrators wanted the cathedral to keep the look of the original building, with the same color exterior and roof tiles.

“It was a miracle to find the original tiles,” said Jimenez. “I looked through the cathedral construction file and found a slip of paper with the name of the tile vendor, Ludowici Roof Tile Company in Ohio. We were able to find the same rainbow-colored tiles.”

The Archdiocese of Miami and donors funded the renovation project, which cost a little over $500,000, said Jimenez. Church administrators also sold some of the old roof materials to bring in some money.

“The mother church of the archdiocese is in an inner-city neighborhood so it was hard to come up with the funding. We sold the old copper flashing from around the roof and were able to make money for the project,” said Jimenez. “In the past, St. Gregory the Great Church and Epiphany Church donated money for repairs to the cathedral. We are grateful for their help. That was a sign of brotherhood.”

Inside the cathedral, an industrial machine looking like a giant red spider, called a Teupen Leo series aerial lift, was used to repair the leak-damaged ceiling and install LED lights in the 10 chandeliers above the main section of the cathedral. The ceiling there reaches five stories high.

Workers removed front pews in the cathedral’s main aisle in order to extend the machine’s four stabilizing legs. The machine’s rubber tracks and foldable legs allowed workers to easily roll it over the terrazzo floor.

“In the past, we used a pole to change lights on the underside of the chandeliers,” said Jimenez. “With the aerial lift, workers were able to reach and change the lights on the top of the chandeliers. The upper lights add light by bouncing off the ceiling. Two small lights on each chandelier highlight the stained glass windows.”

Topping off the project are exterior lights which will light up the mosaic dome, which reaches seven stories high, and bell tower, which reaches 12 stories high.

Jimenez noted that the cathedral sits on coral rock and is located on some of the highest ground in Miami-Dade County.

“Spotlights placed at the front of the cathedral on the roof will aim at the bell tower and dome, which drivers on I-95 will be able to see,” said Jimenez.  

David Prada, senior director of building and properties for the archdiocese, said the project was put out to a competitive bidding process.

“That insured the best value for the archdiocese and cathedral,” he said.