ARCHITECT'S MESSAGE...
John W. Maloney, Architect, A.I.A.
April 14, 1959 - photo
That the architect for any project, by his labors, training and perseverance, has a profound influence on the final aesthetic expression and feeling exhibited by the finished building is a statement accepted as fact by most people.
Something less obvious, but certainly no less important to the ultimate success of the architectural result, is the disciplined thought and energy which only the owner can contribute to the project in alerting the architect to all the various activities, functions and use requirements for which the building is constructed.
This part of the planning is extremely important because, regardless of the building's beauty and freshness of design, if the project is not convenient to live or work in, appreciation of the aesthetics ceases to exist first in the minds of those for whom the structure was designed.
In planning this project we, as architects, consider ourselves fortunate indeed. The Most Rev. Thomas A. Connolly early in the planning, set excellent basic standards as a guide or framework on which all subsequent programing was developed. His Excellency demanded that the building (1) have an appearance expressing the religious purpose to which it was ultimately to be dedicated, (2) that it provide a useable tool for the convenient carrying out of the seminary work by the Sulpician Fathers, (3) that needless or costly frills be avoided and (4) that choice of materials always be on a basis of long life with low maintenance rather than the expediency of low first cost with a higher maintenance budget throughout the useful life of the building. Needless to say, the above mentioned requirements and the endless hours of consultation between His Excellency and the architects had a great deal to do with the quiet dignity and beauty exhibited by this new home for St. Thomas Seminary.
All of the Sulpician Fathers on the faculty combined their efforts to point out basic operating needs in conducting the Seminary. Father Sullivan and Father Knuff worked on, the detailed program requirements of the project, not only during the early planning but throughout preparation of the working drawings and also as required during the actual construction period. It is because of their careful evaluation of the needs of the Seminary and their ability to clearly express these needs to the architect, that this building appears now to be serving its intended purpose in a satisfying and convenient manner.
The entire campus was as carefully planned as the building proper. As a result of this planning, 31 acres of heavily forested land was cleared and 120 thousand cubic yards of earth redistributed and leveled to provide suitable athletic facilities in the form of tennis and handball courts, a baseball diamond and a football field for the proper development of healthy bodies among those studying for the priesthood. To provide a suitable atmosphere for study, meditation and play, facilities for the students were arranged in a cloistered area free from the distractions of business, visitors, delivery of supplies, administrative activities, and so forth.
Access to the Seminary is gained from the main highway over a single approach drive which winds approximately one mile through lush natural timberland to reach the clearing at the limits of the campus, where the building is revealed from a vantage point slightly west of north in a view that clearly expresses the functions of the various parts of the building. In the foreground is the three-story classroom-library wing with its abundance of glass to take advantage of the ideal north light. At the right extremity of this wing and attached directly to it is the dominant entrance portico, which faces Lake Washington, far below and to the west. At the opposite end of the classroom wing the dormitory block rises six stories to provide recreation facilities and study-bedrooms for two hundred students. jutting to the north from this six-story block is a two-story wing which houses the Prayer Hall, with its sloping floor, 234 auditorium seats and fully equipped stage. This area has been designed as a multipurpose facility for prayer, meditation, assembly, and entertainment, while beyond and above the classroom wing can be seen the upper portions of the lofty Seminary Chapel.
As the drive continues to the front of the building it enlarges to pro,vide adequate parking and to impart a feeling of spaciousness. Gracefully curved steps 192 feet in width lead to the formal entrance loggia with its inviting portico of slender, elliptically shaped limestone columns supporting the large concrete roof. The curved edges of this roof are faced with .a limestone trim on which has been inscribed the words, Seminary of St. Thomas the Apostle. In the flanking bays on either side are twice-lifesize bas relief sculptures. The one on the right -portrays Jesus saying to His disciples, "The fields are white already for the harvest." The design on the left depicts Christ showing his wound to the doubtful Apostle, Thomas, and in Latin his exclamation, "My Lord and my God."
Through this gigantic entrance portico can be seen the formal garden with its life-size Carara marble statue of Our Blessed Lady holding the Christ Child in her protecting arms. This statue occupies the dominant central position in the garden. In this area students and priests during uncounted years to come will meditate at the semicircular predieu in front of this inspiring statue or will tread the perimeter walks within this garden while saying their Office.
This garden separates the activities of the Seminary into three major areas -to the right or south side of the garden is the Administrative Chapel Wing with its business offices, priests' private chapels, the priests' living quarters, and the main Seminary Chapel. Along the north side extends the School Classroom Wing, with its excellent library; and beyond the, cloistered wall on the east is the Student Recreation Court, enclosed on three sides by the Student Dormitory Block which houses the heating plant and athletic field locker room facilities in its daylight basement, recreation areas and toilet facilities on the main floor, and student bedrooms on the four upper floors. To the north from this unit extends the Prayer Hall Wing previously mentioned, while attached on the south is the large main refectory with its fully equipped, modern kitchen beyond.
Connected directly to the kitchen is a two-story Convent for the 12 Sisters who operate the kitchen (and the laundry immediately below). Special care has been taken to provide the Sisters a pleasant cloistered residence, a charming private garden and a spacious roof deck for informal relaxation during periods of favorable weather conditions. In all areas comprising this building, only materials which will retain their beauty and usefulness for many years to come have been specified. The entire structure is of durable reinforced concrete. All exterior walls exposed to the weather have been faced with masonry. Carefully selected buff brick in varying shades with accents of Indiana Limestone and coupled with aluminum windows, all combine to give the building a cheerful, dignified character so desirable in the seminary program.
Interior finishes throughout the building are varied to match the special requirements of each area. . In general, the millwork in this building is of unselected birch, although in certain important areas on the first floor, namely the main chapel, its entrance -lobby and the administrative wing, rift-grain dark oak millwork has been specified to provide a dignified -atmosphere in these spaces.
Terrazzo floors have been installed in the main chapel, the kitchen and the main refectory. Resilient floor-coverings of rubber tile or vinyl tile have been used in areas devoted to study and meditation. All water rooms are surfaced with ceramic tile and on those stairs which are subject to extremely heavy traffic, treads and risers of quarry tile have been provided. Asphalt tile has been used where no special traffic problems exist.
The wall finishes in general are of smooth plaster painted in a variety of pleasing colors. However, all wall areas subject to severe usage are faced either with glazed block or ceramic tile for long maintenance-free service. Sound- absorbing surfaces in the form of acoustic tile, have been applied to the ceilings of all rooms where groups will congregate.
The heating system consists of two large oil-fired boilers which produce steam for the laundry, the kitchen and other areas of the building. Special study was given to classify the heating requirements of the various operations in the building so as to zone together all areas having similar requirements. As a result entirely satisfactory flexibility has been provided with a minimum of zoning controls.
The lighting fixtures in principal rooms have been specially designed, not only to illuminate the areas but also match the decor and aesthetic requirements of the space as well.
In the ascending scale of worthy endeavors surely no effort is more priceless than that of training young men for the vocation of the priesthood. It is most gratifying to have had a share in the furthering of this great work through the medium of architecture.