Sacro Sanctum had its inception in 2023 when four Catholic architects — Greg Nagel, Ken Shane, Deacon Brian Witteman, and Peter Budnik — came together out of love for their faith and frustration with the offerings for sacred architecture available in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
Fully incorporated in 2025, Sacro Sanctum aims to serve the architectural needs of the Catholic Church in Milwaukee and beyond to any location in the country by collaborating with Church leadership and all constituents to deliver projects that reflect the timeless principles that undergird our faith. Each partner brings a unique perspective and level of depth to every project.
The Partners
Greg Nagel
Over 29 years of experience in architecture and real estate development. A licensed architect and service-disabled veteran, Greg has been a principal in firms for 21 years, specializing in the design and development of commercial, industrial, and governmental facilities. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies (1998) and a Master of Architecture (2001), both from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
Ken Shane
Holds a Bachelor and Master of Architecture from the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign. Ken has extensive experience in educational and ecclesiastical design and is strongly interested in a Christian culture rooted in tradition and classicism. He blogs on beauty, architecture, and the Catholic intellectual tradition as Aureum Classical Architects. Aureum Classical Architects
Peter Budnik
Holds a Bachelor of Religious Studies from the University of Chicago and a Master of Architecture from the University of Notre Dame. He pursues the fundamentals of design and the common thread binding our great architectural tradition, in both residential and ecclesiastical work. His lectures at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology and his work with the priests at St. Francis de Sales Seminary on their liturgical spaces have deepened his understanding of sacred space. Peter also runs The Wethersfield Institute, dedicated to the faithful retrieval and creative renewal of the Catholic cultural and intellectual tradition. The Wethersfield Institute
Deacon Brian Witteman
A Wisconsin native who loves home design and smaller, detail-oriented commercial work. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies (1986) and a Master of Architecture (1989) from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, and has specialized in custom residential architecture since 1993. His work includes ecclesiastical renovations in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and Catholic institutional spaces. A permanent deacon for St. Monica/St. Eugene parishes, he brings a unique understanding of both the functional and spiritual dimensions of sacred spaces.