Sacred Heart Cathedral

Overview

Sacred Heart Cathedral was constructed on the historic Sacred Heart campus in Knoxville, originally established in 1953. Merit Construction delivered a new cathedral to serve as a worship space for 1,000 parishioners, supporting both the existing parish and the growing Catholic Diocese of Knoxville for generations to come. Completed in March 2018, the project also transformed the existing church into a meeting center and upgraded key campus infrastructure to align with a long term master plan.

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Project Scope and Features

New cathedral worship space

The centerpiece of the project is a new 28,000 square foot cathedral:

• Seating capacity for approximately 1,000 parishioners
• Worship space designed to support major diocesan liturgies and parish celebrations
• Architecture and detailing that reflect the significance of a cathedral church within the diocese

The building was planned to serve as both a local parish home and a diocesan gathering place, balancing daily parish needs with larger, high attendance events.

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Renovation of existing church

As part of the overall scope, the original church building on campus was renovated and repurposed:

• Conversion of the existing church into a new meeting center
• Flexible spaces to support parish ministries, formation, and community gatherings
• Upgrades to interior finishes and systems to align with current needs and standards

This approach preserved an important part of the campus’ history while adapting it for ongoing use.

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Site and campus improvements

To support the cathedral and the broader campus master plan, Merit also delivered significant site and infrastructure work:

• Construction of a new road and bridge to improve access and circulation
• New and reconfigured parking areas to accommodate parishioners and school traffic
• Additional site work to support long term development of the cathedral campus and school

These improvements were carefully integrated into the existing 1950s era campus, maintaining continuity while enhancing functionality and safety.

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Project Details

• Owner
  Catholic Diocese of Knoxville
• Architects
  Barber McMurry Architects
  McCrery Architects
• Size
  28,000 square feet
• Completion
  March 2018

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Results

The Sacred Heart Cathedral project delivered a new spiritual and architectural landmark for the Catholic community in East Tennessee. The cathedral provides a dignified, long term worship space for parishioners and diocesan events, while the renovated former church and upgraded site infrastructure create a cohesive, functional campus for parish and school life.

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