In 2021, Rugo Stone embarked on an ambitious renovation project for St. Agnes Catholic Church, culminating in its completion in August 2023.
The project scope included:
- Restoration and repurposing of the Altar of Sacrifice
- Furnishing and installing new Mensa, intricate carvings, and inlays for the Altar of Sacrifice.
- Design and installation of a new rear altar, tabernacle, baptismal font, and ambo.
- Creation of three new side shrines with Calacatta Vangogh marble back walls.
- Addition of two angel holy water font statues made of Carrara marble.
- Furnishing and Installing new marble flooring in the sanctuary.
The Altar of Sacrifice, ambo, and side shrine bases were made with Botticino Classico marble, complemented by ornate Giallo Sienna marble columns and Corinthian capitals.
The ambo was designed with 4-3/4″ veneer panels with the assembly designed for a monolithic appearance, featuring a red Jasper cross on the front and detailed micro marble carvings embellished with 24-karat Venetian gold mosaic tesserae. The side shrines were decorated with hand-carved tracery, and the two angel holy water font statues were developed using advanced 3D scanning technology. The baptismal font bowl was made from a solid Botticino Classico block, with a shaft of Giallo Sienna and Red Jasper, featuring an intricate rope carving with custom textured finish in contrast with the polished finish everywhere else on the font.
The project presented several challenges, particularly in fabricating the Altar of Sacrifice. Ensuring that each piece fit perfectly while maintaining clearances and alignments was crucial. We dry-assembled all components in our shop for the architect’s review prior to field installation. The intricate floral carving on the right side shrine required meticulous hand sketching, 3D modeling, CNC machining, and hand carving. The client was extremely pleased with the results, highlighting the quality, craftsmanship, and attention to detail that defined our work.
Location: Arlington, VA
Completion Date: 2024
Owner: Catholic Diocese of Arlington
Size: 16,000 sqft
Architect: PAE Architecture
General Contractor: Whitener & Jackson, Inc.
Services Performed: Consultation, Designing, Engineering, CNC/Waterjet Fabrication, Carving, Installation Terrazzo Refinishing & Venetian Glass Mosaic Art.
