Company of New York City were responsible for the plans. A basement was dug out below the church building and a parish hall, kitchen, cloakroom, and other facilities were created there. A new two-story sacristy connected the cathedral and the rectory. The old sacristies, altars, and the back wall were removed to create more liturgical space. A new marble altar with an oak canopy and a mosaic of St. Raphael and Tobias were installed. The marble for the altar came from Florence and the mosaic was created in Venice. The renovation also included new lighting, interior decorating, confessionals, and stations of the cross. Cardinal Samuel Stritch, the Archbishop of Chicago and former Archbishop of Milwaukee, rededicated the renovated cathedral on March 10, 1955. Cathedral fire On March 14, 2005, a fire caused extensive damage to St. Raphael's Cathedral, affecting not only those who attended the church, but the entire diocesan community. The fire caused the roof to collapse into the building, although the walls and steeple remained standing. There was further damage from the water and fears that the refurbished steeple would collapse, although the steeple was found to be stable in the days following the fire. The mosaics sustained smoke and water damage, and the stained glass windows were damaged but still in place. The cause of the fire was determined to be arson. Forty-one-year-old William J. "Billy" Connell was arrested for setting the fire and charged with burglary, arson, and bail jumping. Connell said that he had broken into the Cathedral using a crowbar, stole a bottle of wine, and then "messed around with some stuff". The fire started in an office/storeroom under the spire, and the crowbar was found in that room. Connell had a history of mental problems, and had previously been in trouble with the law. Connell was sentenced to 15 years in prison to be followed by 15 years of close supervision. On June 10, 2007, Bishop Morlino announced his intention to have the structure demolished and replaced with a new and larger church capable of seating 1,000 people. The Diocese of Madison announced on March 13, 2008, that St. Raphael's would be demolished by June of that year and that some items from the old Cathedral would be saved, including the spire, the three bells from the steeple, three mosaics from the sanctuary, the marble sanctuary appointments, one large undamaged stained glass window,