The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-08-31
SISTERS COLLEGE

w.
the Catholic University-Many Com
munities Will Build Residences
Plan Involves Expenditure of a Mil
lion Dollars.
A magnificent educational city of
1000 dwellers will rise within the
next two years at Brookland, the i'm
portance and influence of which will
single enterprise ever conceived by
the Catholic Church in this country.
One hundred buildings will be in
cluded in this little cloistered city,
whose environs will cover 81 acres.
The purpose of these buildings will
educating a small army of earnest
women seeking the highest training
the age affords, and to carry back to
their various communities knowl-
edge of the latest developments in
science and teaching. The construc-
$1,000,000; it's benefits to the Church
cannot be measured by dollars and
cents.
This is the scheme, says the Mis-
of the new Sisters College at Brook
land, under the shadow of the Cath
olic University of America.
The Site.
December last, tract of 81 acres
of land adjoining the Catholic Univer-
sity was purchased for the site of the
Sisters College. The oblong tract of
beautifully rolling country chosen as
the site lends itself naturally to a
division of the buildings into two
groups, one of academic buildings ap-
preached directly from the boulevard,
and the other group of community
residences for the various religious
orders, closely related to the first and
partially shielded by it. In coniunc-
tion with both groups there are minor
divisions, one for the faculty of the
Sisters College, and one for the re-
fectory and school of domestic science
and administration. In addition there
will be a small group of service build
ings consisting of an electric power
house and stables. Around the entire
tract will be a high stone WALL which
will completely shut off the outside
world from the college.
Architectural Design.
To combine simplicity with dura-
bility has been the object of the archi-
tects, F. V. Murphy and w. B. Ohm
stead, in preparing their plans. They
have followed the Italian renaissance
style of architecture for the academic
group of buildings and the. Spanish
mission style for the dwellings. The
southern extremity of the tract, which
has been selected for the academic
group, is of sufficient elevation to give
magnificent view of Washington and
the Catholic University. The chapel
will be the dominant figure of this
group, and will cost approximately
100000. Grouped about the chapel
will be the school of art and music,
and adjoining these on either side,
and flanking the broad terrace, will
be the buildings containing labora-
tories, lecture halls and libraries. The
buildings, it is estimated, will cost
between $4,000 and $4,000 each.
Fronting them all will be a heroic
statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The residences will be so arranged
that they may be reached by the same
approach as to the academic group.
They will stand on broad plateau
surrounding an extensive campus.
These houses will be laid out in har-
monious relation to the general en-
semble, yet susceptible, each in itself,
of whatever variation in detail may
be considered necessary for the con-
venience and comfort Of the particular
order erecting it.
Cloisters for Each Group.
AS a protection against severe
weather these subdivisions of COM
munity dwellings will be joined to-
gether by means of covered passage
ways in way to create a complete
cloister for each small group and en-
able secluded gardens to be laid out.
In this manner it will be possible to
isolate certain portions of the main
group, while also making it possible
to introduce highly satisfactory
scheme OF landscape development.
The landscaping will be done by,
George Burnap.
That the college will have an at
tendance of 1000 Sisters within two
years, and 10000 within 10 years, is
the belief of the university authorities.
In response to letter sent out last
year, more than sixty communities
signified their intention of keeping a
number of their Sisters In residence
at the collage and MANY nf fhaso have