"The design goal was to create an environment that represented the faith, heritage and values of the parish, and provided a quiet place for meditation and prayer," explained Paul N. Hay, AIA, of the Architectural Alliance. "A larger-than-life sculpture of Our Lady of Guadalupe, standing on a barren hilltop, is the focal point of the shrine -- with the plaza and buildings simply creating a setting and background for the sculpture."
A primary building material for the project is white Texas limestone, supplied by Marx Building Stone of Leander, TX. According to the architect, the limestone was used in a horizontal ashlar pattern, with pieces measuring 4 to 8 inches tall. "The stone was chosen for its texture and color," Hay said. "White brick was utilized on the existing parish campus, and we wanted the old and new to blend. We had used this stone on a facility in Dayton, TX, so we were familiar with it, and we only had to make one sample panel."