Work In-Progress

Plans for a new St. Paul's Catholic Center, located in the center of the University campus, was designed by the Omaha, Nebraska planning firm of RDG [in charge: Randy Milbrath]. The 14-floor building is to contain housing facilities for students, activity areas, entry atrium and a large chapel. Henry Menzies designed the lower floors including the chapel and the entry area.

The Owner asked that the chapel should be strongly rooted in the classic Catholic tradition but adapted to contemporary needs.

The facade was to have a basically secular aspect but also to suggest a chapel inside.

Menzies solution was to create a dominant barrel-vaulted central space running on the north-south axis from the front facade to the rear of the chapel and a secondary similar space west-east producing a traditional cross plan with a groin vault.Directly under the intersection is located the chapel altar. At five locations within the barrel-form are placed large (18'-0" diameter) round glass windows.

The circle is one of the primary Christian symbols. In its "rose window" form it represents the traditional, universal iconolgy of Christ, the sun. These windows are employed not only to bring natural light into the chapel but also for their beauty.

There are two stained glass windows. One is located on the front front facade of the building to the north, and the other on the back facade to the south. The other three windows are of translucent glass. The translucent glass window between the entry area and the chapel bring in the natural, colored light from the front stained glass.