Continuing on with our consider of before and after projects, we are pleased to turn to a project completed in 2022 by Studio io in collaboration with Murals by Jericho. The project in question comes from the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)'s John Paul II Newman Center.
From Studio io:A modest midcentury modern student center chapel received a significant upgrade in a renovation project that included a new built-in reredos with custom crucifix, all new ornate marble flooring, an historic side altar rebuilt as the altar of sacrifice and complemented by a new, matching ambo, salvaged antique baptismal font, and new devotional shrines to Mary and Pope St. John Paul II... Other than flooring, work was done by Murals by Jericho, who also designed a custom pattern for the rear wall highlighting aspects of John Paul II’s Marian devotion. A second phase will include new additional ornamental carvings in the sanctuary, replacement stained glass windows, commissioned painting of John Paul II, and complete renovations to the existing sacristy and confessional.
So then, what is important to understand is that this project is still not yet complete, but only represents the first phase.
In terms of what came before, it follows a fairly typical pattern for a North American liturgical space as designed in the mid-century period: exposed brick, uninspiring, minimalist liturgical accoutrements, a "resurrected" Christ (rather than a crucifix) and a certain penchant for asymmetry.
BEFORE
One can tell that some attempts were likely made in later decades to fix some of these elements, but clearly without great success.
So then, to address some of these issues more thoroughly, Studio io began by reclaiming a proper sense of symmetry and order to the sanctuary, anchored in particular by the canopied reredos and crucifix at the back of the apse. This is further assisted by the decorative stencilling executed by Murals by Jericho and the more substantive altar and ambo that were introduced into the sanctuary.
It is also worth pointing out that some colour was added to the ceiling and the carpeting was removed in favour of decorative stonework. 
It will certainly be interesting to see what the second phase of this project brings, but one thing is for certain, already we can see a substantial and marked improvement from what came before.
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AFTER
It will certainly be interesting to see what the second phase of this project brings, but one thing is for certain, already we can see a substantial and marked improvement from what came before.
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