Petawa Residence and Cultural Center

Brookfield, Wisconsin

Petawa Residence and Cultural Center is a women's center of Opus Dei, a Personal Prelature of the Catholic Church, located in Brookfield, Wisconsin. The building serves as a residence for Opus Dei women Numeraries while also functioning as a multi-purpose facility supporting hospitality, formation, and religious formation.

The project's design reflects its layered program. A public-facing wing welcomes visitors through a grand foyer with soaring windows and staircase decorated with a wrought iron guard rail, leading to a generously scaled living room and dining areas used for hospitality and community gatherings. At the heart of the building, the oratory which seats 40 provides a dedicated space for worship, finished with marble, stained glass depicting Marian and angelic imagery, and gold mosaic detailing above the altar.

The lower level is dedicated to apostolic activities for young women, housing bedrooms, meeting rooms, a study library, bathrooms, and a kitchenette anchored by a large island designed to support group activities and gatherings.

Throughout the residence, millwork, built-in cabinetry, and thoughtfully finished kitchens and living spaces provide a warm, home-like environment for daily life. The exterior combines brick masonry with limestone-toned trim, large window bays, and a welcoming entry portico, establishing a residential character consistent with the surrounding architecture.

Built with masonry construction and durable, long-lasting materials throughout, Petawa Residence and Cultural Center is designed to serve its community for the next 100 years as a permanent home for prayer, formation, hospitality, and the apostolic mission of Opus Dei.

Gallery