The Santiago Calatrava-designed St. Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center has topped out, and capped with a temporary, six-foot-tall cross.
The Byzantine-styled structure was envisioned by Calatrava in 2013 as a non-denominational spiritual center to replace the original St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, located at 155 Cedar Street, which was destroyed on 9/11.
Now, the 40 structural pieces of the ribbed dome have been set into place, matching the number in the dome of Hagia Sophia. Foundation work on the project began just over a year ago.
Located around the corner from Calatrava’s “Oculus” at the WTC Transportation Hub, the church is being constructed at a cost of $40 million, raised completely from private donors. The project is estimated to complete in early 2018, at which time, the permanent cross will be lifted into place.
News via The New York Times. H/T Curbed NY.
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