Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption

The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption stands as a striking example of mid-century modern architecture, but its existence is a direct result of urban zoning requirements from the nineteen sixties. When the previous cathedral burned down in nineteen sixty-two, the archdiocese was unable to rebuild on its original site because city codes required one parking space for every ten seats. To accommodate this demand for a large parking facility, the church moved to a new site in the Western Addition, an area the city had recently cleared through controversial urban renewal projects. The cathedral now occupies this space as a monumental, white, saddle-roofed structure that deliberately contrasts with the dense city blocks around it.