Gholz said that the owners originally wanted to use granite to match the church's stone altar, but they were eventually convinced that the limestone was more compatible with the exterior of the existing church. “As an architect, I wanted a stone that had a presence from a distance, but also had detail up close,” said Gholz. “An integral part of the design from the beginning was bringing the people to and through the tower to a small contemplative space on the south which overlooks the valley to the church's original stone chapel in the distance.”

Gholz said that two challenges arose while constructing the tower. “The biggest challenge regarding the stonework during design was determining the thickness and size of panels for various locations on the tower,” he explained, adding that a lot of discussion took place between the architect, engineer and the stone supplier. “During construction, [the challenge] was getting the crane to the site through the flood plain via a specially constructed road, and coordinating stone installation on a very restricted site - on a hill between an occupied church and the flood plain.”