The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

Student Center - Mother Adelaide Hall

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Student Center (stained glass windows in planetarium lobby of Mother Adelaide Hall), Lourdes College

Student Center (mural in planetarium lobby of Mother Adelaide Hall), Lourdes College

Student Center (mosaic of Aquarius in planetarium lobby of Mother Adelaide Hall), Lourdes College

Institution Name: Lourdes College
Original/Historic Place Name: Copernicus Planetarium Lobby - Mother Adelaide Hall
Location on Campus: 6832 Convent Blvd.
Date(s) of Construction:

1963-1965

original construction Schauder, Thomas Henry J. Spicker Co.

Designer: Thomas Schauder; Henry J. Spicker Co.
Type of Place: Individual building
Style: Mission/Mission revival (Glossary)
Significance: architecture, culture, education, history, religion
Narrative: see below
References: see below

Materials:

Foundation: concrete

Walls: sandstone light brick exterior with large stained glass; interior wall embedded with art pieces

Roof: terracotta tile

Function:

ca. 1965	other (reception area)
1965-present (2006)	observatory (planetarium)
ca. 2004-present (2006)	student union

Narrative:
The Student Center, formerly the planetarium lobby, boasts several distinctive artistic features. The Signs of the Zodiac and a welded stainless steel bust of Copernicus, the Polish astronomer who revolutionized our understanding of the movement of the planets and the stars, adorn the outer wall of the planetarium. The enameled copper and wrought-iron forms mounted on walnut panels were designed by Sister Michaeline and executed by Sister Ruth Marie and Sister Bennett with the assistance of blacksmith Dick Ottenweller. The bust, purchased in 1975, is the work of Marian Owczarscki of Poland. A sixteen foot-high mural, painted by Sister Agneta Ganzel, captures the scenic and historic highlights of the campus. The mural was created to honor the creative spirit of Mother Adelaide shortly after her death. The dominant feature of the outer wall is a series of ten leaded stained glass windows portraying maps of various countries of the world and their prominent landmarks or characteristic symbols.

References:

Klewicki, Mary Dunstan. Ventures For The Lord: The History of the Sylvania Franciscans. Sylvania, OH: Sisters of St. Francis, 1990.

Lesiak, Michaeline. Art Catalogue: Narrative in the Duns Scotus Library. Sylvania, OH: Sisters of St. Francis, 1986.

Warpeha, M. Justinian. Of Evergreens Rooted In Yellow Sand, a Profile of Venerable Mother M. Adelaide, Foundress of the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio. Sylvania, OH: Sisters of St. Francis, 1967.