Organ case for the Cathedral of St. Paul, Minnesota

Cathedral of St. Paul, Minnesota

Project Name

Cathedral of Saint Paul - Organ Case

Location

Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA

“The involvement of a true craftsman always makes the projects better. Ian Agrell and his staff took a classical design drawn in great detail and enriched it further. We were thrilled at the result!”

— Duncan G. Stroik, Architect

Client | Partners | Companies

CATHEDRAL OF SAINT PAUL ORGAN CASE

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Saint Paul in Minnesota, we created an ornate walnut and gold-leaf case for the Aeolian-Skinner organ. Architect Duncan G. Stroik’s design features 40-foot towers adorned with hand-carved corbels, swags, domes, and human-sized angels, all crafted to harmonize with the cathedral’s French classicism.

DeSIGN & EXECUTION

The 60-foot-wide structure, elevated 30 feet above ground, was constructed in partnership with joiners Geoff Arko, Scott Richter, and Quimby Pipe Organs to ensure precise installation without disrupting daily services. Each element, including the non-repetitive 6-foot swags and 8-foot brackets, was uniquely hand-carved.

THE ANGELS

Two life-sized angels, designed with Sculptor Cody Swanson, were meticulously carved from plaster models and gilded in pure gold leaf by Aedicule, adding a timeless, celestial touch.

EFFORT & CRAFT

Completed over 18,000 hours in one year, this project exemplifies our commitment to delivering exceptional craftsmanship on a monumental scale.

Further information

AWARDS

The casework has won several architectural awards, including:

  • 2013 Faith & Form Magazine and the Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art, and Architecture (IFRAA) Design Awards.

  • 2013 Association of Licensed Architects Design Awards.

  • 2013 Chicago - Midwest Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art Acanthus Awards.

  • Merit Award in the category of "Liturgical | Interior Design".

  • Silver Award in the category of "Interior Architecture"

  • Acanthus Award in the category of "Allied Arts & Craftsmanship".

DUNCAN STROIK'S SKETCH OF THE ORGAN CASE OF THE CATHEDRAL OF ST. PAUL, MINN. Stroik designed casework to complement the cathedral’s modern French classicism. The walnut and gold-leaf casework included 40-foot-high cantilevered towers decorated with h
SKETCHES, MODELS, AND WOODCARVINGS OF ANGELS Stroik recommended Cody Swanson, an American sculptor living in Florence. He and Stroik created an appropriate design and then supplied us with half-sized plaster models.
Master Carver Ian Agrell in a project meeting with architect Duncan Stroik to discuss the hand carved organ case for Cathedral St paul, Minn. The organ case earned Stroik and his team numerous well-deserved national awards.
Master Carver Ian Agrell posing with a hand carved model of St. Cecilia. “The involvement of a true craftsman always makes the projects better. Ian Agrell and his staff took a classical design drawn in great detail and enriched it further. We were th
A WOODCARVER WORKS ON AN ANGEL SCULPTURE FOR THE CATHEDRAL OF ST. PAUL, MINN. Though we had worked with Stroik’s team on smaller projects, we were keen to show off our advanced construction and woodcarving skills as well as our ability to deliver an
GILDERS COAT WOODCARVINGS IN GOLD LEAF After the carving and casework was complete, the gilder, Peter Werkhoven, and his staff covered the carved elements, including the giant corbels and swags, in pure gold leaf— no easy task considering the size of
INSTALLATION OF THE ORGAN CASE FOR THE CATHEDRAL OF ST. PAUL, MINN. We hired a cabinet shop run by Geoff Arko and Scott Richter in Richmond, California, with whom we have 20 years experience collaborating. We liaised with Quimby Pipe Organs, the orga
INSTALLATION OF THE ORGAN CASE FOR THE CATHEDRAL OF ST. PAUL, MINN. A local scaffolding company helped us hoist the parts into place using cranes borrowed from a shipping yard on nearby Lake Superior. On the last night, I remember the feeling of reli
INSTALLATION OF A TOWER FOR THE CATHEDRAL OF ST. PAUL, MINN. The entire structure was 60 feet wide and 20 feet deep, and stood on a platform some 30 feet off the ground.
DETAIL OF THE BACK OF AN ANGEL WOODCARVING Perhaps the most interesting part of the job was carving the two angels. We often work with designers and sculptors who specialize in the human form to supply us with models, or maquettes, for us to copy.
HAND-CARVED WALNUT BRACKETS This was an extremely heavy multi-piece walnut structure that needed to be installed in a restricted space without disrupting the cathedral’s everyday events.
ANGEL WOODCARVED STATUES A pair of human-sized angels playing musical instruments. Hand crved by Agrell Arcitectural Carving.
HAND-CARVED WALNUT SWAGS by Agrell Architectural Carving. Each swag was individually carved with no repetition in design. After all, the advantage of carving by hand is that you don't have to repeat everything like a machine does.
DETAIL OF THE ORGAN CASE FOR THE CATHEDRAL OF ST PAUL, MINN. The organ case of the 2,200-seat Roman Catholic cathedral needed a serious facelift. So, to commemorate the cathedral’s 2015 centennial, the congregation commissioned the new cabinetry seen
DETAIL OF A DOME FOR THE ORGAN CASE OF THE CATHEDRAL OF ST. PAUL, MINN. All told, our team of woodworkers, woodcarvers, and gilders spent around 18,000 hours over the course of a year to complete the project.
Hand carved wood bracket by Agrell Architectural Carving for Cathedral St Paul, Minn. The real monsters were the 8-foot-wide brackets that visually supported the towers. The sheer size and weight meant they were extremely difficult to move around, l
A WOOD-CARVED SCULPTURE OF ST. CECILIA by Agrell Architectural Carving. “It was my good fortune to spend several evenings this week locked in the cathedral for hours, enjoying the fruits of your labors… I have given notice that if I miss a cue durin
ORGAN CASE FOR THE CATHEDRAL OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA by Agrell Architectural Carving in partnership with Duncan Stroik. We consider a job well done if on the last day, everyone shakes hands and says they look forward to working together again. That’s
EXTERNAL OF CATHEDRAL OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA In this case, the project was constructing, carving, and installing a new organ case for the Beaux Arts-style Cathedral of Saint in Minnesota. The architect was Duncan G. Stroik, a professor of architectur
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