The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel and College Library

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Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel and College Library, College of St. Scholastica

Institution Name: College of St. Scholastica
Original/Historic Place Name: Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel and College Library
Location on Campus: due south of Tower Hall
Date(s) of Construction:

1938	original construction O'Meara & Hills Quick, G. E.

Designer: O'Meara & Hills; G. E. Quick (St. Louis, MO)
Type of Place: Individual building
Style: Romanesque revival (Glossary)
Significance: education, religion
Narrative: see below
References: see below

Materials:

Foundation: poured concrete

Walls: façade: Minnesota granite; sides and rear: brick

Roof: copper tiles

Function:

1938-present (2006)	chapel
1938-present (2006)	library

Narrative:
The Benedictine monastic community now known as St. Scholastica Monastery was established in Duluth in 1892. In 1900 the first plot of land that is now the College/Monastery campus was purchased by the nuns, and construction began on the first building, now known as Tower Hall, in 1908. Construction proceeded in stages and was finally completed in 1928. Until 1938, this building housed all of the monastic and educational facilities of the institution (Villa Sancta Scholastica) including the elementary academy, high school, junior college (until 1924), and four year college (after 1924). The Tower Hall building is constructed of stone quarried on the campus site.

In 1938, two additional buildings were added to the campus, connected by cloister walks. These were the high school building (Stanbrook Hall) and Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel, the ground floor of which housed the College library. Tower Hall continued to house the college and much of the monastery. The architectural style chosen for the chapel/library was Romanesque, similar to that of the 10th century European Benedictine monasteries.

The Chapel and Library were inverted and renovated in 1985-86. The renovation is a good example of the cooperation between the Benedictine Sisters and the College administration. In 1984, there were two major problems: the College had expanded and needed a new library space, and the Sisters needed a barrier-free chapel. The space that was redesigned now serves the needs of both. The pipe organ was installed in 1992.

References:

Scott, James A., and John R. Ulven, Jr. Duluth's Legacy: Vol. 1, Architecture. Duluth, MN: City of Duluth, l974.

Somers, M. Agnes. All Her Ways: A Short Account of the Foundation, Development and Artistic Acquirements of The College of St. Scholastica. Duluth, MN: College of St. Scholastica, 1952.