Ave Maria founder Tom Monaghan (owner of Domino's Pizza) is one of the world's largest collectors of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright and the Ave Maria Oratory was based on Wright's work. Monaghan drew the building's first sketches himself on a paper napkin. The architects at Cannon Design completed the design.
The facade of the church features a 70-ton, 30-foot high annunciation sculpture depicting the Archangel Gabriel's announcement to the Virgin Mary.
The sculpture was created by the Hungarian sculptor, Marton Varo. He used marble from Cave Michelangelo in Carrara, Italy.
He carved the sculpture alone, working seven days a week, and it took him three years to complete.
The 120-foot tall, $24 million building features a distinctive steel structure, which is largely exposed both internally and externally. Over 1,270 tons of fabricated structural steel was used in the project. The interior walls and ceiling were clad with over 50,000 square feet of Stromberg GRG. In March 2008, Diocese of Venice Bishop Frank Dewane dedicated the 1,100-seat church.
The frame of the oratory is unusual as it is visible both externally and internally. The structure received an architectural award
Thanks for looking,
Carol
