Fascinating Real Estate

The most fascinating piece of Real Estate I have ever encountered and experienced is that of St. Patricks Cathedral in New York City. While I'm a devout Catholic, this church has been one of the most important structures in a city that is typically proclaimed as "the center of the world". To have stood the test of time for so many years in a city that is constantly evolving and changing says a lot about the perception that the natives of New York have toward this structure.

In addition, I was once an Architecture major at A&M before I decided to switch to Mays. During this tenure as an Architecture student, I studied numerous ancient structures and St. Patricks is one that has elements that come from several different sources.  The church as a whole can be most accurately described as a Neo-Gothic sanctuary. Built of marble with several pointed arch vaults and incredibly high ceilings, the church draws heavy influence from the typical European Gothic churches of the 18th century. The ribbed piers and large rose window add a sense of immense depth and give way to intricate stained glass windows depicting biblical anecdotes. These features all combine to give the viewer a feeling of being overwhelmed. Also, there are Baroque features such as the large organ and the usage of traditional wooden piers. All in all, St. Patricks is a testament to the power of American masonry and the combination of several influences.

When I first saw St. Patricks on my first trip to New York City, I was truly in awe. I was born in Mississippi and have spent most of my life in the American South and Texas. While these places will always be dear to me, the sight of New York City was staggering to me. I visited St. Patricks after visiting Rockefeller Center and this gave me the perspective that New York is both the old and the new; the ancient and the modern. Truly, this parcel of real estate is one that I hold dear not only due to its architectural features and my religious background, but also due to the feelings it propagates in those who look upon it.