Mekus Tanager, Inc. is pleased to announce the completion of Phase 1 of a new committal shelter and garden crypt complex in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, located in Alsip, Illinois.  Designed to stylistically compliment an existing garden crypt complex across the lawn, the new Mausoleum of the Archangels Extension  is split into two levels; an upper level featuring private areas solely for niches, and a lower level featuring crypts, an outdoor committal shelter, and sculpture garden.  The crypts were designed to be only 5 or 6 units high, instead of the standard 7, to provide a more human scale to the crypt buildings.

By Christopher Mekus, AIA

It’s no surprise that the slow economy has affected pre-need sales in many cemeteries. An increasing amount of people are delaying their cemetery purchases until the need arises for a crypt or grave. This reduced pre-need revenue has ultimately affected capital development projects such as mausoleums, columbariums and garden crypt structures. As a result, these projects are now being developed on an at-need basis.

Mekus Tanager was part of a design team that developed the 323-acre master plan for Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego, and the development provides approximately 253,000 new burial spaces.