The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-12-05
DESCRIPTION OF NEW SCHOOL
NOW IN COURSE OF ERECTION
IN THE PARISH OF ST. STEPHEN,
MINNEAPOLIS.
(Communicated.)

SAuu 1OOuSS IHGdIE0 udll1 parish
kitchen, gymnasium and nine class
rooms-this is what the new parochia
school building of st. Stephen, Mime
apolis, is designed to be. Work on the
structure has been going steadily for
ward during several months; the base.
ments and first floor are completed in
the rough, and from their ample pro
portions and admirable construction
one can Judge of the general character
of the building as planned. The school
is directly across Twenty-second street
from st. Stephens Church and like it,
faces west on Clinton avenue, where
it has frontage of 122 feet. It's
depth is 116 feet. 1t is two stories
in height above the basement, is fire
proof throughout, being of reinforced
concrete construction. The walls are
faced with brick laid in Flemish bond.
Architect e. J. Donahue of st. Paul
drew the plans of the school and
Madison Brothers of Minneapolis, are
the builders. The cost of construc-
tion will be $4,000.
ne Basement.
The plan of the basement is well
calculated to accommodate parochial
organizations and encourage various
lines of social activity in the parish.
The walls extend several feet above
the ground, giving ample space for
large windows and an abundance of
light. Two club rooms, each "a feet
wide and so feet long, occupy the
front. Between them is coat room
conveniently reached from either side.
A corridor extending the full width
of the building from north to south
divides these rooms from the rear
part of the basement where the big
gymnasium Is situated. This splendid
hall is sixty feet wide and extends
back from the corridor seventy-three
feet, taking up all the middle portion
of the rear basement Along it's south
side bowling alleys will be installed
and the remainder of the floor will be
laid out for basket ball and other win
ter sports. The height of the ceiling
will permit the use of rings, ropes,
ladders, bars and other appurtenances
of a nature, to encourage wholesome
exercise. The gymnasium is flanked
on both. side by various smaller rooms.
Along the north side are locker rooms,
toilet and shower rooms arranged for
the convenient use Of those engaged
in calisthenics, games and other gym
nastic work. On the south side Is a
third club room about half as large
as each of those in the front of the
basement, this one being twenty-six
feet square. Along side of it is a
kitchen which can be reached from
corridor, club room or gymnasium. 1t
is large enough to accommodate the
needs of a cooking class or of parish
society and will be equipped with cup
boards, chests, sinks, and ranges. The
boiler room with its big 36x72 steel
tank Is also reached from the gym
nasium and back Of it is the fuel
room.
First Floor.
The approach to the building from
Clinton avenue is by wide flight of
steps to a stone porch on which auto
matte folding doors open from the
vestibu1e.. Another fight of marble
steps in this vestibule lead up to the
main corridor of the first floor which
extends the full width of the building
and terminates at the side entrances
The Office, a rest room, and two class
rooms occupy the forward portion OF
the first floor while the auditorium
two class rooms, toilets and coat
rooms take up the rear.
The auditorium Is directly above tIe
gymnasium and is of the same size
being seventy-four feet long and sixty
| feet wide. It. is a veritable theatre
suitable for public. meetings and en-
tertainments of every character. 1ts
height Is twice that of the. class
rooms, extending as 1t does from the
| main floor to the roof. The stage with
it's dressing rooms on each side ant
a property room takes up the full
width of the building. A spiral stair
way connecting one of the dressing
rooms with the gymnasium below
enables one to reach the stage with
out passing through the auditorium
| On the main floor of this hall there
is space for $50 seats and this, to
i getder with the wide gallery extend
ing across the rear Of the auditorium
will seat. an audience of about 800
The gallery is reached by four doorI
opening upon the corridor of the sec
ond floor.
Second Floor.
Il There are five class rooms on th'
second floor. Four of them occup,
corresponding positions to those o.
the first floor, one at each angle o
| the building, while the fifth is directl.
above the vestibule, Office and rest
room, in the front of the school. Tn
] nine school rooms vary somewhat il
| size; but are similarly arranged il
the matter of light, heat and ventila
!. ton and seating. The light in eacl
j | room comes from a group of window
! ut the left OF the children and Til
/ lighting space is 50 proportioned 7
the size OF the room that there VII