Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-30

THE PLAN OF TIE UNIVERSITY.
One Of the conspicuous objects in the land
scape east of the soldiers home grounds is the
new Catholic University building The corner
stone of this structure. which is intended event.
ually TO be one Of group of buildings. was laid
less than year ago, but the work of construc-
ton has been pushed forward so rapidly that
the great stone walls are up and the pointed
slate roof finished. The building is entirely
enclosed and the interior walls having been
lined with terra Gotta the work OF plastering
has been begun. The open winter has greatly
facilitated the work of building The stone
mssons were able to continue laying stone long
after the ordinary building season had closed.
In fact, men have been employed on the
building continuously since the cornerstone
was laid on the 2ith of Nav last
The date fixed for the dedication of the build
ing Is November next, but il was not expected
that such progress in construction would have
been possible. As far rs the completion of the
building Is concerned. no doubt an earlier date
could now be fixed. As il is, the additional
time viii afford an opportunity for completing
all the details of the structure.
MASSIVE PILE
The size is perhaps what first impresses one
who sees it. Although the entrance 10 the
grounds, which was formerly known as the
Middleton place, is at the junction of the Bun
ker Hill road with Lincoln avenue, the new
building Is located in the western part Of the
grounds and stands upon the high ridge over
looking the lawn and groves Of the Soldiers
home park. The situation is a commanding
one, and the high roof. broken by gables and
rounded chlmneys, can be seen for a long dis
lance. In whatever direction il is approached
whether along the Bunker Hill road or Lincoln
avenue or the Hardwood avenue road. the mas
slVe walls can be ssen standing out boldly in
the landscape or else partially concealed by the
heaVy masses OF. trees. with which this pictur-
esque portion OF the country abounds. From
The Hardwood avenue road perhaps the
best view of the structure can be
obtained. The hill upon which it is
bullt slopes down gradually from the
front of the building to the road and there are
but few trees to obstruct the sight Along the
brow of the hill the building extends for a dis
lance of 266 feet. The central portion, which
Is finished plainly with gable. is five stories
high, while the rest of the building is four
stories high. The material usedis Georgetown
blue gneIss rock. which is laid in broken range
rock face work. The great extent Of the build
Ing, the material used and the severely plain
style OF architecture combine to produce a
striking etfectof massiyeness and solidity. The
style of architecture is what il
known as modernized Romanesaue and
there is but little ornamentation.
The blue stone work is relieved by trimmings
OF Ohio stone about the doors and windows.
There is little carving introduced here and
there, but the design is essentially plain and
the carved work relieves rather then enriches
At the main entrance, which is in the center OF
the front, there is a stone porch, and above is a
recess made in the wall for statue At the
north end of the building there is a return
wing. and from the rear OF the central portion
OF the building is another wing which is being
fitted as chapel.
THE INTERIOR
The arrangement of the interior is simple.
There is large central entrance hall with a
grand double return staircase. A grand arcaded
hall extends through the wings on the rear
from end to end. and the front is divided into
large apartments for parlors. class and lecture
rooms, prayer-hall, &c. In the return wings
will be the divnity-hall and the recreation.
rooms. In the basement under the chapel and
few steps below the level of the main floor.
VIII be located the divinity library. reading
| room, and recreatlon-rooms The chanel floor
will be half story above the main floor. and
entered from the landing of the grand stair
case. The kitchen, laundry, bakery and
servants apartments will be isolated in
the back building. Two large staircases,
partly OF hre-proof construction, one al
each end of wings. carried up around back
shafts inciosing the elevators and ventilating
nues. lead TO the upper floors. These floors
are divided into suites of rooms. consisting OF
| sltting-room and bedroom for each professor
and student. These rooms are arranged ON
both sides Of central corridor 10 feet WIDE
I When completed they will furnish accommoda-
tons for ten professors and sixty students A
private dinlng-room for the professors is pro-
ylded on the second hoor and on the fourth
Moor there is an infirmary. Bathrooms and
other conyeniences are provided on each floor
The architect of this building. which is known
as the Divinity building, is L. Francis Baldwin
OF Baltimore. He is the nephew of Bishop
Elder, and was the architect of St Marv's
theological seminary in Baltimore, the Johns
Hopkins university, the Baltimore and OHIO
railroads. central offices, and several churches
IN Baltimore.
THE UNIVERSITY BUILDINGS
Will be grouped around a central park Though
the divinity building is the only one which will
be erected at present, the sites for the other
seven have been chosen. In the center, facing
the main avenue, will be the grand hall OF
science, with its laboratories. To the right
and rear OF the hall of science, the Observatory
VIII be erected upon a high KNOLL and at the
front, on the opposite side of the park, the Ii.
brary building will stand. large church, OF
university chapel, will be erected on the north
between the park and the divinity building
with which 1t will be connected by an arcade
The high grounds adjacent TO the divinity
building will be reserved as sites for colleges
that may be elected by religious orders in con.
nection with the university, and il is expected
that residences for professors will be arranged
around the front of the park
The rector Of the university. Bishop Kean. il
now in Rome consulting with the authorities
relative to the organization Of the new univer-
sity. de proposes also TO secure q competent
corps OF professors before his return to this
city. During his absence the vice-rector Rev.
MI: Corrlgan, Is the representative of the
university.