By Robert Blair, President of Lifestyle USA Design
With the groundbreaking complete, it was time to move into the final phase — developing the full construction documents.
As we continued refining the design, the client shared a specific vision for the large central gathering area. He wanted something that would reflect the beauty and character of what he had experienced in Rome — particularly the arches and statues that define so many of its historic spaces.
Immediately, one place came to mind.
The statues of the Twelve Apostles at St. John Lateran.
Their presence, scale, and rhythm create a powerful architectural experience — one that is both grounded and inspiring. It felt like the perfect source of influence for what we were trying to achieve.
From that point forward, the design began to take on a deeper meaning — not just as a building, but as a space shaped by memory, inspiration, and purpose.
What began as a simple sketch in Rome had now come full circle — returning to its roots in a way that would be permanently built into the design itself.