The Liturgical Designer's Role

The Liturgical Designer’s Role

OVERVIEW

A Liturgical Design consultant wears many hats: Rolf Rohn of Rohn & Associates Design, Inc. is a Liturgical artist, Designer, educator, construction consultant and appraiser. He has dedicated his professional career to the study and execution of sacred art, architecture and liturgical design, educating leadership and communities about how art, architecture and liturgy work together on over 3,000 projects worldwide. Rolf specializes in the development and implementation of comprehensive worship environments from master planning, fundraising support, space and functional needs, and sacred art using the guidelines articulated in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Built of Living Stones: Art, Architecture and Worship, as well as the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, the rite for the Dedication of a church.

Most designers and architects lack the liturgical expertise essential to address the liturgical requirements of a sacred space. Rolf is an expert at opening the hearts and senses of all parties to the Holy Spirit and translating that into a holistic harmony of space, devotion and liturgy that is faith-affirming. Liturgical environments have completely different functional needs: they must be designed from the altar outward, with active and passive spaces and clear sightlines that interact to bring harmony to promote a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Proper space formation, liturgical furniture, appointments and interior design should work as a cohesive whole. In doing so, this gives the community a clear sense of the sacred and encourages a sense of participation in the sacred liturgies and sacraments, while at the same time teaching about their ministries and iconography that make it a truly Catholic environment.

A Liturgical Design consultant’s scope of work includes but is not limited to:

• New construction

• Interior and exterior building renovation and restoration, including 3D scans to determine structural limitations and conditions of historical buildings that would need to be addressed

• Water or fire damage restoration, as well prevention of future environmental damage space formation (including entry ways, restrooms, and seating that meet ADA requirements, as well as prayer gardens)

• Money saving state-of-the-art lighting control and acoustical systems that set scenes to focus on liturgical actions, devotions and inspiring art and are easily controlled via iPads, as well as updated heating systems and acoustics for music ministries

• Interior decoration and liturgical artwork (this includes flooring, furniture, appointments, murals, stations of the cross, statues, art glass, and mosaics, etc.)

• Development and landscaping of exterior grounds, and the introduction of columbariums to increase potential revenue opportunities

• Parish education programs for master planning

• Fundraising support

PROCESS & FEE SCHEDULE

We provide one initial no obligation free consultation and a summary of our suggestions with a general fee structure. Once a client decides to move forward with our services, we schedule a series of carefully timed, collaborative meetings (Parish Education Programs) on-site with everyone involved in the project designed to recognize your vision, develop your goals into manageable plans and timelines, and, if necessary, communicate it to your congregation to gain fundraising support. Based on the detailed feedback from these conversations, our designers develop specific plans and prices for approved scope of work. They then submit designs, color schemes and finish samples for the liturgical space and furnishings for review, as well as graphically rendered visions of the completed project. Once a client approves these items, our team prepares and presents a schedule to oversee their fabrication, delivery and installation, managing and coordinating all of the team players and on-site contractors.

Depending on your budget, we might suggest the project be divided into phases that can be easily introduced as needed, when the timing is better or when funds are available. By looking at the environment holistically, we ensure that the project will be executed as efficiently as possible, allowing for easy future scalability that is economically sound and intelligent. This forward thinking mitigates potential problems regardless of project size, making it easy to get it right the first time rather than having to go back and fix something that wasn’t done correctly. We handle everything, from bids to change orders to project closeout. Fees and schedules are updated throughout the process as needed, and the client always has final approval. We ensure everything remains on schedule, within budget, and ensure minimal disruptions to Masses.

THE LITURGICAL INTERIOR DESIGNER’S ROLE

An often-overlooked, yet mission-critical, person in church design and renewal is the Liturgical interior Designer. They are the subject matter experts when it comes to delivering a holistic and visually pleasing worship environment that will inspire the masses. These professionals provide invaluable support services to our Liturgical consultants in the key areas of colors, finishes, liturgical furnishings and sacred art.

A Liturgical Interior Designer’s scope of work includes, but is not limited to, paint and finishes for church interiors, architectural details, furniture, flooring, sacred art refurbishment and design, functional aesthetic resources such as lighting and acoustical fixtures, and so much more. Rolf leads teams of handpicked artists, artisans and painters, along with parish leaders and committees, to deliver the full gamut of sample work specific to each project, highlighting color schemes and decoration through architectural details, flooring, furniture, murals, faux finishes, gold leaf and more. His work ensures that liturgical artwork and appointments, furnishings, and environments are correct and in harmony to fulfill each parish’s unique traditions and in alignment with leadership’s vision. He is a master at finishing new interiors and awakening the beauty of older environments hidden under years of dirt and dust to create awe-inspiring sacred spaces that rightfully place the liturgy and sacred art as the central focus. Rohn & Associates Design, Inc. also has a graphic design department to help you and your parishioners envision the finished project through beautifully rendered artistic visions. When possible, we also try to incorporate local talent, which makes a project even more unique and meaningful.

Saint Paul the Apostle Catholic Church: Nassau Bay, Texas

LONG DISTANCE PROJECT COORDINATION

Rohn & Associates Design, Inc. has successfully completed thousands of projects spanning the United States and internationally for well over half a century, so we’ve finessed all the kinks that come with this challenge into an incredibly smooth process. Our team remains in constant contact via email, phone, Face Time and Skype, and regularly schedules trips to oversee the project, ensuring every step is proceeding seamlessly until we have provided you with a flawless, awe-inspiring and spiritually uplifting liturgical environment. Our artists and graphic designers also provide continuous visual updates of the project to ensure everyone is on the same page, and we adjust whatever necessary along the way to fulfill your exact vision. We also schedule frequent visits to our suppliers to source and manage the highest quality of product from places as far as Italy, Peru, Poland, Spain and the Philippines.