St Mary of the Mount High School - St Mary Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

Page 81 text:

' 4 %

Page 80 text:

by past records, Father Sullivan presented the gigantic task that lay before them — the building program. Characteristically the people responded to Father ' s appeal. The envelope system for the Sunday collections was revised, and in an incredibly short time, the Sunday collections boomed. Father assured his people that if the collections would continue, that the expenses of the parish could well be taken care of. The next step, financially, was a drive to raise money for the expansion of the parish buildings. The response was good. Explaining to his people that he was only custodian of the ftmds. Father Stillivan periodically made a report on the financial standing of the parish. Openly and sincerely, he assured them that this first drive would not be the last, but rather the beginning of appeals to raise money to further the growth of the parish. The original plan provided the renovrtion of the convent first. This vork was started in 1953 and the house at 714 Grandview Avenue was made habitable and comfortable for the sisters ' return in September of that year. By the follo ving Sep- tember Father hoped to have the large house on 710 Grandview made equally comfortable. However, man proposes and God disposes. Father was assured that, in the long run, it vould be cheaper to build a new convent than to try to restore the old Cliff House . Disappointed, but not discouraged, Father Sullivan began to formulate other plans. These plans included the building of a new convent and high school on the site where the two convent houses stood. The first step towards the furthering of plans was the purchasing of the Hill homestead and the renting of the newly remodeled home of Mrs. Helen Knee as temporary living quarters for the sisters. And so, in Jtme of 1955, the wrecking crew arrived to dismantle and demolish the old convent, thus causing nostalgic memories in the minds of old parishioners and sisters alike. After considering bids from various contractors of the city. Father Sullivan and the members of the Church committee awarded the contract for construction to F. J. Busse Co., whose bid for the work was an estimated $598,591.71. The archi- tects, Marlier and Johnstone, after many hours spent in constiltation with Father Sullivan submitted the plans for two separate btiildings rather than a combined school and convent. Our new high school is designed to accommodate fotu himdred ptipils. In addi- tion to the eight typical classrooms, specially equipped rooms provide for instruc- tions in typing, sewing, cooking, the sciences and art. There is an ample library, and a room for atidio-visual instruction which will also accommodate limited assemblies.

Page 82 text:

All study and recitation classrooms are lighted from the preferred direction south of east. The classrooms thus have the benefit of sunshine during the early hoius of the day. By a happy coincidence this aiTangement also makes available to all classrooms, without sacrifice in orientation, the breath-taking view across the city and up the Monongahela River Valley. Sharing the site of the high school is the new convent. Excepting that the sisters may enter the school corridors directly from the convent, the structures are com- pletely separated. The site plan arrangement provides separate outdoor recreation areas for the occupants of each building, screened from each other, and both courts screened from Grandview Avenue. Needless to say, those using the landscaped courts may enjoy the view across North Hills and down the Ohio River Valley. Designed by Marlier and Johnstone, Architects, the buildings are of steel frame and masonry. Fireproof construction, they are designed in the Contemporary man- ner. The exterior brick and stone trim match the old school across the street and thus indicate their relationship. But the new building is not a copy of the old. It incorporates the new window-wall technique wherein steel and glass replace the old weighty wall areas of masonry between windows. In addition to the added interest in contrasting textures of brick, steel and glass this new technique provides an opportunity to enhance the exterior design with contrasting colors. The introduction of strong exterior color, in turn, invites such decoration as the colored ceramic panel and painted metal cross adjacent to the main entrance. It seemed becoming, ho ve ' er, to apply this lively treatment to the school only. The same kind of design approach is used for interiors. For example, brick walls, laid in a decorative design, are used in the main lobby. It creates a study room of stone, brick, quarry, tile and metal as a transition to the more customary materials in the rooms beyond. This is characteristic of the work in Contemporary design which, among other things, adds interest to buildings by what might be called an architectural change in pace . Literally, it is a change in texture, color and combination of materials for the sake of animation in design. Obviously, the possible combinations are infinite but usually cost enters as one of the considera- tions and tends to establish limits. Within the areas of instruction, materials and equipment used are those cur- rently considered most appropriate for the various purposes. Where several possible methods or materials might have been used, the final choice was made for reasons of cost or durability or ease of future servicing or maintenance.