St. Patrick's
Catholic
Church
St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Elkhorn, Nebraska, is a 157-year-old parish that has evolved with the westward growth of the Omaha metro. As the city expanded westward, so too did the parish's needs.
The existing 700-seat church could no longer accommodate its nearly 3,000 parish families or the activities of its thriving school. After a year of master planning and test-fit studies, the parish adopted a two-campus model to support its continued growth while honoring its long-standing traditions.
The newly developed 12-acre site expands the parish's capacity and capabilities with a 1,300-seat church, 100-seat day chapel, 600-seat parish hall, administrative offices, and numerous meeting and ministry spaces. These additions serve the functional needs of a growing congregation and enhance opportunities for gathering, worship, and fellowship across generations. The original campus remains active as home to the parish school, reinforcing a shared identity across two locations.
Design goals established early in the process, centered on community, history and heritage, acted as guiding principles. Drawing from early Irish monastic settlements, the architectural approach embraces the idea of organic growth. Monasteries were shaped over time by spiritual intention and the surrounding landscape. That same philosophy is reflected here through varied rooflines, a central walled courtyard and a site-sensitive layout that invites discovery and connection.
Material selection and detailing also reinforce these values. Natural stone, simple finishes and handcrafted elements echo the humility and permanence of early ecclesiastical architecture. A cylindrical bell tower, inspired by the Irish round towers that once served as beacons and places of refuge, becomes a defining visual element on the Elkhorn skyline. Granite tiles etched with Celtic knots, rings and crosses further root the design in the parish's Irish identity and namesake.
Together, these elements shape a sacred environment that is both timeless and forward-looking. The new campus strengthens the parish's presence in the community, offering spaces that foster worship, welcome, and continuity. RDG is honored to have partnered with St. Patrick's Catholic Church to create a place where faith, tradition and architectural expression unite to serve a vibrant and enduring spiritual mission.