g&a creates a virtual monument to St. Nicholas Church
To mark the reopening of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine in New York City, G&A has launched a digital platform to preserve the sacred icon. Built in 1916, the structure served as a monument in Manhattan’s global financial center until it was destroyed in the 9/11 attacks. Rebuilt by Santiago Calatrava as a white marble dome in the traditional Byzantine style, it now virtually commemorates the reverent blend of educational storytelling and religious ritual. The experience design company’s interactive app makes the experience accessible to all, allowing users to traverse a meticulously detailed model created using drone-assisted high-resolution photogrammetry with support from Iconem and Hirani Group.
Worshippers begin their journey outside the façade and then move through the narthex and central nave. As they move through the space, guided by audio commentary, text descriptions and short films, they can learn about the history of the architecture, learn about the theological iconography that adorns the walls and even participate in religious rituals such as lighting a candle.
All images courtesy of G&A
Discover Santiago Calatrava’s church, rebuilt after September 11
G&A rethinks the churchgoing experience for the digital age and makes it accessible to a wider audience by showcasing the architecture, iconography and history of St. Nicholas Church. Users of the digital platform begin their journey from the outside, rotating the church for a 360-degree view and learning about its history, destruction and reconstruction. In the narthex, a vast anteroom leading to the altar, visitors can take a closer look at the artwork, light a virtual candle or make a donation. In the main nave, an interactive 3D model offers a comprehensive look at the biblical scenes hand-painted on the walls and dome by Father Loukas, a Greek monk living on Mount Athos.
The digital reconstruction of the Greek Orthodox Church and the National Shrine of St. Nicholas was a collaborative process between G&A’s technical department and the film department. TeamParis-based digitization studio Iconem and New York-based Hirani Group. Together, the design team employed drone scanning and 3D photogrammetry, allowing users to take an immersive virtual tour and explore the space from all angles. The process involves stitching together hundreds of still images and scans to create a model with precise 3D geometries. The digital experience supports G&A’s physical interventions, which include hand-carved marble exterior signs, commemorative engravings, and an immersive digital kiosk where visitors can make donations, view the changing church plans, view a map showing where donors are from, and read their stories.
G&A’s digital platform preserves the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas and the National Shrine
The building was rebuilt by Santiago Calatrava after its destruction during the September 11 attacks.
The white marble dome structure reflects a traditional Byzantine design in Manhattan
The app supports G&A’s physical interventions, including hand-carved outdoor signs and commemorative engravings
Project info:
Name: Visit to the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas and the National Shrine
Designers: @g.ampersand.a
Employees: Iconem | @ic0nem, Hirani Group | @hiranigroup
Location: New York, United States
Architect: Santiago Calatrava | @calatravaofficial
