The tallest church steeple in St. Louis, the nearly 300-foot-tall bell tower at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Oratory, has experienced movement and separation from the main structure of the church.  Gateway’s role, working with SCI Engineering, Inc., Dickinson Hussman Architects, CCS Group, Inc., and the Archdiocese of St. Louis, consisted of multi-phased exploration and analysis.  Included were review of exterior borings with rock coring, exterior test pits along the foundation walls, and interior borings and test pits through the concrete floor, both directly beneath and adjacent to the tower.  It was determined that the original concrete mat foundation for the tower, constructed nearly 100 years ago, had settled and was continuing to move away from the main church.  A detailed plan for underpinning the tower was prepared and remedial construction is planned for spring, 2007.

	St. Francis de Sales Catholic Oratory with its bell tower,   the tallest church steeple in St. Louis.

Explore further - St. Francis de Sales homepage