Project Name: St. Patrick Catholic Church, Firm: RDG Planning & Design
What and where is this project?
In the heart of Elkhorn, Nebraska—where suburban growth has transformed once-rural farmland into flourishing neighborhoods — St. Patrick Catholic Church has served its community for more than 150 years. But as the number of parish families surged to nearly 3,000, it became clear that the original church campus could no longer support the vitality and diversity of the parish’s ministries. So, the parish set out to reimagine its entire campus, and, working alongside RDG Planning & Design, began to envision a place simultaneously rooted in tradition and responsive to modern needs. With land gifted by a parish family on West Maple Road, a new 12-acre site took shape, emerging as a sacred and civic anchor designed to welcome a growing population.
Dedicated in June 2025, the new campus features a 1,300-seat worship space, a 100-seat day chapel, a parish hall, administrative offices, an outdoor courtyard and spaces for private counseling and support. Since opening, St. Patrick has welcomed an additional 1,000 worshipers each weekend — evidence of the growing need it was designed to meet.
What population does it serve?
This new campus serves a multigenerational, rapidly expanding community that spans Elkhorn, Omaha and surrounding suburbs. It also serves more than just registered parishioners; the design anticipates a wider human need for connection, for sanctuary, for places to belong, even for those without a formal relationship to the Church.
The parish hall and meeting rooms are set apart from worship spaces, allowing community groups and support organizations to gather throughout the day and evening. Amenities like a café and commercial kitchen enhance usability while respecting sacred boundaries. At the campus center, a courtyard whose doors never close offers a quiet place to rest or reflect, welcoming all, regardless of faith or familiarity. It offers a quiet invitation — one that is spiritual, but not prescriptive.
Understanding that churches often become informal points of refuge, the design also includes two private counseling rooms adjacent to the chapel. These rooms offer a place of comfort, staffed by volunteers or clergy, for those who arrive in distress seeking peace or help.
How does it enhance its faith community, and the community overall? How could others adapt it?
For the faith community, the campus is a long-awaited answer to the need for space to gather for sacraments, celebrations, ministries and quiet reflection. The cruciform worship layout, monolithic stone elements and Irish monastic-inspired bell tower connect the new space to the parish’s spiritual and cultural lineage. The expanded capacity allows more families to worship together, especially during peak liturgical seasons and life events.
But the campus was also designed as a civic gesture. Churches have long stood as neighborhood landmarks, and this one, situated on a prominent stretch of West Maple Road, welcomes the broader public with both hospitality and humility.
Other communities can adapt this approach by:
- Exploring a parish’s identity to find the most resonant elements and use the architecture, space and artwork to spark curiosity and tell a distinct story of faith and community.
- Designing dual-purpose campuses that honor sacred functions while anticipating civic needs.
- Planning for physical and operational boundaries that allow for shared use, such as separate entries for meeting rooms or secure zones.
- Including spaces for respite and reflection that aren’t overtly religious, offering quiet dignity to those who need it.
- Embedding support infrastructure like counseling rooms into the heart of the church environment.
How can interested parties learn more?