St. Patrick Catholic Church Marks Milestone with Dedication of New Elkhorn Campus
The new Elkhorn location, designed by RDG, honors the church’s heritage while allowing for future growth.
On June 5th, 2025, the St. Patrick Catholic Church community in Elkhorn, Nebraska, gathered to celebrate a transformative milestone: the dedication of their new church. Designed in collaboration with RDG Planning & Design, the new campus honors the parish’s 157-year legacy while also creating space to accommodate Elkhorn’s growing community and deepening community engagement.
Situated on a 12-acre donated site, the new campus is the result of an intentional, collaborative process grounded in a set of guiding principles established early in the design. Among these were commitments to create a visual landmark for the city, to reflect and embrace the parish’s Irish identity and to preserve a small-town spirit of hospitality. These values shaped every decision, from the layout of the campus to the selection of building materials. The resulting design draws inspiration from early Irish churches and monasteries, with a variety of stonework and handcrafted detailing that conveys a sense of timelessness and continuity.
“Designing a new church is always an incredible responsibility, and with St. Patrick, that responsibility came with the privilege of honoring a long and deep-rooted history of faith and tradition,” said RDG Architect and Partner Joe Kotulak, AIA. “We’re immensely grateful to the parish for trusting us with this sacred opportunity, and we’re proud to have helped bring that vision to life.”
At the heart of the campus is a 1,300-seat nave — more than double the capacity of the previous church — organized in a modified cruciform to emphasize the centrality of the altar. A 100-seat day chapel offers space for quiet prayer and smaller liturgies, while a 600-seat parish hall supports community events and gatherings. A cylindrical bell tower, inspired by traditional Irish round towers, rises above the campus and serves as a new architectural beacon for the Archdiocese and local community.
The $38 million project also includes administrative offices and an outdoor courtyard designed to support fellowship and spiritual reflection. Details such as granite tiles etched with Celtic knots, crosses and rings reinforce the church’s identity and its message of belonging. The parish will continue to operate its original campus, home to St. Patrick School, which serves students from preschool through eighth grade. Together, the two campuses strengthen the parish’s ability to grow its ministries and reflect its mission to educate, nurture and sustain faith across generations.