936 Emmanuel & St. Chad Chapel
University of Saskatchewan Heritage Register November ■ 2014 936 Emmanuel & St. Chad Chapel
Alternate Names Main Chapel Emmanuel Chapel St. Chad Chapel Graduate Student’s Association (GSA) Commons
Architect(s) Webster, Forrester, Scott and Associates, Saskatoon
Builders Shoquist Construction Ltd.
Construction Dates 1965-1966
Recognition University of Saskatchewan ‘B’ Listed
Figure 1. Copper roofing. 1. Statement of Significance
The Chapel of St. Chad, as it was originally known, was designed by Webster, Forrester and Scott of Saskatoon and constructed between 1965 and 1966. The Emmanuel and St. Chad Chapel is no longer used as a church; however, its form and style still commemorate this previous role with a high degree of integrity. The building carries heritage value due to its historic use and its affiliation with the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad. It has architectural value due to its highly successful marriage of Figure 2. L to R: Greystone the Modern and Gothic styles, representing a contemporary and Tyndall stone. interpretation of both the traditional architectural style of the University of Saskatchewan campus and of the historical forms and conventions of ecclesiastical architecture.
University of Saskatchewan Heritage Register ■ 7-468 Figure 3. Emmanuel & St. Chad Chapel shortly after construction. The copper roof had not yet taken on its patina. Photo retrieved from Saskatchewan Archives Board, Call no. B124 AII.124-125.
Figure 4. The chapel interior is defined 2. Character - Defining Elements by its fir ceiling and glue laminated arches. 2.1 Materials The defining material feature on the exterior of the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad Chapel is the standing seam copper roof of the nave. This roof takes the form of two intersecting pointed vaults, which reach 40 feet in height, such that the copper roof is the building’s most dominant architectural element. In Saskatoon, copper does not turn green as is typical in many other locations, but rather loses its sheen in the clean, dry prairie air and deepens to a dark brown patina. The copper roofing is shown in Figure 1.
The primary material of the exterior walls is rough-faced ‘greystone.’ This stone is significant as it was chosen as the signature material for university buildings at the outset of campus construction. Cut Tyndall stone is used for window surrounds and accents. The ground floor and basement windows are grouped into a series of vertical slots framed by Tyndall stone. Tyndall stone detailing is also used around copper drainage spouts. The use of greystone on the Emmanuel and St. Chad Chapel signifies its affiliation with both the university and the other theological colleges. Tyndall stone is also considered a character-defining element of later university buildings as it was the accepted replacement for sandstone and Indiana limestone. Greystone and Tyndall stone are shown in Figure 5. Terrazo stairs, wooden banister Figure 2. (For further information on building stones used at the and balustrade. U of S, refer to ‘Appendix: Stone’.)
Emmanuel & St. Chad Chapel ■ 7-469 The stained glass used in this building is another character- defining element. At the head of the chapel nave stands a window 30 feet in height and 10 feet in width. The window depicts the creative works of God and man. Two windows flank this principle window in the transept; one devoted to the College of Emmanuel and one to St. Chad. These windows measure 33 feet high by 4 feet wide. Some windows depict intricate figurative scenes while others are abstract. The windows lend a range of color to the chapel, defining in particular the character of the nave. Because stained glass is a material associated particularly Figure 6. The forms used to compose with Christian churches, the windows also reflect the chapel’s the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad history as a theological institution. The stained glass has been Chapel. well maintained and fully retains its commemorative integrity.
Exposed fir glue-laminated arches extend from the floor to the roof of the nave. Between these ribs, fir roof decking is exposed, as shown in Figure 4.
The entrance foyer is fully glazed, with floor to ceiling aluminum framed curtain wall. The foyer floor features terrazzo that also faces the stairs between the ground and basement floors. Oak paneling accompanies the terrazzo stairs as shown in Figure 5.
Figure 7. The zigzag roof bisects the arched form of the nave contrasting heavy stone with light glazing.
Figure 8. Building elevations. Retrieved from Facilities Management Division Asset Record System, File EC-24-T.
University of Saskatchewan Heritage Register ■ 7-470 2.2 Form & Style This building is modern in its form and detail, but it pays clear tribute to both the Collegiate Gothic context of the university and its mediaeval Gothic antecedents in the Christian architectural tradition. The roof of the nave, which creates the dominant form of the building, is composed of two pointed vaults intersecting in plan to form a cruciform, a device common to most Christian churches of the Middle Ages. The chapel has a broader vault running east-west, intersected by a narrower north-south vault. Figure 6 shows the intersection of the two volumes. This church differs from standard Gothic precedent in that its nave faces west rather than east. A smaller zigzag concrete slab makes up the roof of the entrance vestibule at the east end of the building. Its zigzag roof line extends across the north and south elevations of the main body of the chapel, forming the eaves of the copper roof (Figure 7). The extension of material planes and forms into one another is a common characteristic of Modern architecture. Although the building is predominantly symmetrical in form, a subtle asymmetry exists in the relationship between the lower entrance vestibule volume and the main volume of the chapel. Figure 8 shows this asymmetry in elevation. The form of the building, a hybrid between the modern and gothic styles, is a character-defining element that has fully maintained its Figure 9. This window is modern in style commemorative integrity. but its peak pays tribute to the gothic style. The chapel is characteristic of the modern period in its simplified ornamentation. In the case of this building, form is often used as ornament; the zigzag vestibule roof is an example. The building form itself consists of two exaggerated intersecting pointed vaults. The pointed arch is a Gothic element, but its application is Modern. Here, the traditional Gothic ribbed vault takes the Modern form of a series of glue-laminated wood arches. The vaults are punctuated only by windows and their structural ribs, and feature no decorative details. Notably, the windows of the nave feature triangular arches; a Modern interpretation of the Gothic arched window. These windows are shown in Figure 9.
In these ways, this Modern chapel pays tribute to both its Collegiate Gothic context at the University of Saskatchewan and its Gothic predecessors of Christian tradition. Its inventive mixture of Modern and Gothic, its use of exaggerated form as ornamentation and its rich material qualities mark it as an important work of architecture.
Figure 10. The nave features lancet windows and gothic arches formed by exposed decorative ribs.
Emmanuel & St. Chad Chapel ■ 7-471 Maintenance Energy Centre 103 N O R T H A C C E S S R D A R C H D E R I V E S E The R CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY 110 Concourse 108 112 121
R I V H D E R E S E A R C Bio Processing L.F. Kristjanson Centre The Atrium Biotechnology Complex SRC E Y R O A D N W Analytical O D Laboratories 411 The National Dr. Burton Craig Galleria Hydrology D O W N E Y R O A D Research Centre Dr. Jack McFaull Innovation Place Research Park
Road RESOURCES ROW Waste Closed I N N O V A T I O N Management B O U L E V A R D Facility
R E SED S Canadian E Systems Inc. Space A R Agency C Agriculture H
Greenhouse D
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M I Field 11 I NVaccine Centre P.O.S. Pilot Plant N Theological A F A O (InterVac) Corporation R H Seminary T L Y A
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SEMINARY CRESCENT CANADIAN WILDLIFE CRT E R VIDO Environment Canada C Canadian D Laboratory O V Canadian Wildlife Crop Science
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PRESTON AVENUE V O Field Laboratory I Synchrotron Service
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O Greenhouse H Food Animal R University Clinical Sciences C N R.J.F. Smith Centre O Services (Bovine) Facility I For Aquatic Ecology T W O W AY T Education T A T C R O A D A T 1 0 8 t h S T R E E U S A K D E
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E A S Research N B C NORTH ROAD N F E R College of B I E T A A D C Heating K Annex Veterinary
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CAMPUS DRIVE L U S T Edwards School P A RINA M TE RY D E A C V C R of Business O C I E U Poultry U R V Saskatoon T E Farm Agriculture Centre O Cancer Centre Law Residences
S Thorvaldson SCIENCEKirk PLACE Hall RUH Parkade A R T S Biology TRC L A C I DME (W.P. Thompson)
C Arts Engineering Curling R
T Rink EV I RD MSUACP John Poultry Royal Geology Mitchell Science University Archaeology E Rutherford V Irene and Leslie Dubé Hospital D-Wing I Animal Science Fields Physics Centre for Mental Health Expansion Rink R T H E B O W L D University Farm
Murray Hantelman (Library) S Health U P Sciences Marquis NRC - Plant F A R M L A N E Ellis Hall Place Hall Nobel M Livestock Qu'Appelle Plaza Biotechnology A R T D Palliser C Riel Hall C Research A Garden College Institute L O Qu'Appelle A Observatory 2.3 LocationSaskatchewan T R U Stone Hall Addition Voyageur Administration S I M F A R M LA N E President's N A P Animal
Dental Hall G M N L A E OYA Place Y C PRESIDENT'S PLACE V G E Barn
E D The chapel is located east of the Wiggins Avenue entrance to
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R Kinesiology I N theT University of Saskatchewan’s main campus. The nave of the R McLean Hall Barn D I Memorial Athabasca Physical Activity Little E-Wing building faces directly west. The chapel is also located adjacent G UNIVERSITY BRIDGE L ST. ANDREW'S PLACE Hall Expansion Y Union Complex (PAC) A Stone G Emmanuel Eto other Emmanuel and St. Chad College buildings. Figure 11 T St. Andrew's L I I Faculty School & St. Chad/ M P St. Thomas shows the location of the building in green creating an outdoor
O College W PRESTON AVENUE S Chapel Club MEMORIAL CRESCENT T
O A DA M I N P L Memorial More T quadrangle between the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad
H Rugby O COLLEGE DRIVE
College B Gates Building and McLean Hall.C A M P URugby S D R I V E Chapel is located near the Chapel HWY 5 C O L L E G E D R I V E southeast corner of the Emmanuel and St. Chad Chapel.
COLLEGE DRIVE Figure 11. The location of the College Through proximity, this location signifies an affiliation with the Stadium of Emmanuel and St. Chad Chapel is other former Emmanuel and St. Chad buildings. Louis’ Beach Patterson Parkade Volleyball indicated in green on this contemporary Garden
UNIVERSITY DRIVE MUNROEAVE BOTTOMLEYAVE WIGGINSAVENUE
campus map. McLean Hall, Rugby chapel C R E M S C E N T I U CLARENCE AVE CLARENCE and the College of Emmanuel and St. S T A D Graham PotashCorp Huskie Saskatoon Field House Chad are all located nearby. Concession Parking Lot Ball Fields Park Clubhouse 4 3 Ball Field Saskatoon 2 Ball Field House M A P L E G E N D Field East West 1 Stands Stands Buildings Transit Hub (Saskatoon Transit and university Griffiths FIELD HOUSE ROAD Stadium service vehicles only) Buildings Under Construction Saskatoon Field House Ball Fields Visitors Parking Lot Royal University Hospital AVENUE Underground Walkway 5 6 Clubhouse Campus Entrance Maps Ball Fields Emergency Phones Williams Parking Information 7 8 Campus Safety available 24 hrs ( 966-5555) Student Pay Parking Information Centres Residence Project Lots 1 4 Underground Agriculture Parkade 5 Place Riel Student Centre - 966-6988 Stadium Parkade 2 Parking Services - 966-4502 CUMBERLAND Royal University Hospital Information Desk Assiniboine P Meter Parking -Hospital Mall - 655-1005 Wollaston Hall Meter Parking Lots 3 7 8 9 Hall Crop Science Seager Test Plots Crop Science McEown Park (Cumberland & 14th St.) Wheeler Test Plots Hall Disabled Persons' Parking*
M Motorcyle Parking* Souris Faculty & Staff Parking Lots* McEown Park Hall Student Residences PRESTON AVENUE AE C F G H HA K L O Q R T V
McEOWN PLACE Student Parking Lots* Figure 12. The floor plan of the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad Chapel. North is to the left. Retrieved from Horticulture Science E P Y U Facilities Management Division Asset Record System, File EC-32-T. Field Facility *Parking permits required. 1 4 t h S T R E E T Contact Parking Services at 966-4502 University of Saskatchewan Heritage Register ■ 7-472 2.4 Spatial Configuration The spatial configuration of the chapel has been largely maintained. The layout is a character-defining element as the floor plan and defines the building’s identity as a Christian chapel. Figure 12 shows the building’s floor plan; the primary space on the ground floor is the nave. The high, arched ceiling allows the choir loft to overlook the open nave. The spacious nave has largely maintained its commemorative integrity through the maintenance of its vaulted ceiling.
The altar and stage at the head of the nave has now been replaced with a small servery. To accommodate the use of the building as the Graduate Students Association Commons, two offices have been added flanking the entrance to the Figure 14. The current ground floor plan nave. Figure 14 shows the of Emmanuel Chapel. North is to the left. Figure 13. Light fixtures in the floor plan of the building’s Retrieved from Facilities Management chapel’s nave. main space as it now exists. Division Asset Record System, File EC-936- 130-T. 2.5 Systems The exterior walls of the chapel consist of cast in place concrete faced in stone. The vaulted roof of the chapel, seen under construction in Figure 15, is supported by large wooden glue- laminated arched beams which are exposed on the interior. These arched beams support fir roof decking which is similarly exposed on the interior. The glue laminated arches carry the load of the building down to its concrete foundation walls. The structural system holds heritage and architectural value because of the vaulted form it creates and because of the aesthetic qualities of its exposed materials.
Figure 15. Emmanuel and St. Chad Chapel under construction in 1966. Photo A-346, retrieved from http://scaa.sk.ca/gallery/ uofs_buildings/
Emmanuel & St. Chad Chapel ■ 7-473 Figure 16. Roof details. Retrieved from Facilities Management Division Asset Record System, File EC-35-T.
Figure 16 shows the structural system supporting the entrance vestibule roof. The zigzag roof is composed of a concrete slab supported at its peaks and valleys by tubular steel columns. The glass foyer is enclosed by an aluminum-framed glazing system. The ground floor is a structural concrete slab and the building Figure 17. The space being used by the itself rests on cast in place concrete foundation walls and footings. Graduate Students Association.
2.6 Use(s) Prior to 1966, Rugby Chapel had served as the main chapel for Emmanuel College. The Colleges of Emmanuel and St. Chad amalgamated in 1964 and with the opening of the Emmanuel and St. Chad Chapel in 1966, the role of the Rugby Chapel was reduced. Emmanuel and St. Chad Chapel provided a 120– seat chapel, a reading room, library and offices for a university chaplain and two faculty members. The Anglican chapel was used as a meeting place and a place of worship. Births, graduations, weddings and funerals were held there. The Emmanuel and St. Chad Chapel was used in its original capacity until June 14, 2006 Figure 18. An association with St. Chad when a service to ‘deconsecrate’ the space was held. College built into the North facing glass. The Emmanuel and St. Chad College Chapel remains defined as a chapel only through its form and style. The theological function of the building is no longer carried out and the space now functions as an office and social lounge for the University of Saskatchewan Graduate Students’ Association. The nave of the chapel is now a large open lounge with tables and chairs (Figure 14). The choir loft is an unused space and the basement accommodates washrooms and storage. The current use of the building thus does not carry any heritage value, but the building’s character-defining form is a reminder of its former use. Figure 17 depicts the space in its current configuration and use.
University of Saskatchewan Heritage Register ■ 7-474 2.7 Cultural & Chronological Associations The chapel still carries association with the Colleges of Emmanuel and St. Chad despite their discontinued use of the building. The stained glass windows in particular are character- defining elements associating the building with the theological colleges (Figures 17-20). The windows have heritage value and commemorative integrity. The two large stained glass windows on either side of the nave display the names of the Colleges, shown in Figures 18 and 19.
The central stained glass window overlooking the nave from Figure 19. Emmanuel College is the head of the space chronologically associates the building commemorated in the south facing with the Modern era. The principle window depicts steamships window. and airplanes as well as wheat being harvested by scythe. The construction of the servery at the head of the nave has obscured some of this imagery. Figure 20 shows the largest stained glass panel located above the former location of the altar.
The most obvious cultural association that this building holds is its affiliation as a religious institution. Elements that define the building as Christian saturate the building: stained glass panels depicting biblical scenes and symbols, light fixtures with Christian symbolism, the arched form of the building and its spatial configuration with a nave and a choir loft all classify the building as a church. The central stained window also depicts scenes of divine creation and human industry. The window illustrates the heavens, planets and plant life as examples of God’s creations. Human creations are represented through steamships, and airplanes. Agricultural scenes represent the shared efforts of God and humanity. Figure 20. The central stained glass Despite the change in window depicts the creative works of man use it has undergone, the and God. commemorative integrity has been maintained to a high degree through the maintenance of these numerous character- Figure 21. Christian references are defining elements. Some of still found in many elements that these elements are displayed define the character of the interior. in Figures 20 and 21.
Emmanuel & St. Chad Chapel ■ 7-475 3. Associated Objects N/A
4. Supporting Documents Author Unknown. (April 29, 2005). College of Emmanuel & St. Chad likely to close. On Campus News, 12. Retrieved from http://www.usask.ca/communications/ocn/o5-apr-29/ news03.shtml.
Facilities Management Division (2011). Asset Resource Database [Data File]. Retrieved from \\usask\fmddfs\files\iis\IIS_ Public\ARS
Macdonald, R.H. (1965, December 2). WP Photographcolor Section. The Western Producer, pp. C1.
Richards, B. (January 8, 2010). Viewpoint: Use may change but memories remain. On Campus News. Retrieved from http://news.usask.ca/ archived_ocn/10-jan-08/viewpoint. php
Saskatchewan Archives Board. Call no. B124 AII.124-125.
University of Saskatchewan Archives. (Retrieved 2011). Campus Buildings: Emmanuel College/Rugby Chapel. Retrieved from http://scaa.sk.ca/gallery/uofs_buildings/.
University of Saskatchewan Heritage Register ■ 7-476 5. Summary of Character - Defining Elements Materials ■ standing seam copper roof ■ ‘greystone’ walls ■ tyndall stone trim ■ stained glass windows ■ fir (glue-laminated arches, decking) ■ oak paneling ■ terrazzo floors
Form & Style ■ intersecting pointed vaults ■ zigzag concrete slab roof ■ triangular arched windows
Location ■ adjacent to other Emmanuel and St. Chad College buildings ■ creation of outdoor quadrangle between the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad buildings
Spatial Configuration ■ choir loft ■ high vaulted nave ceiling
Systems ■ arched glue-laminated beams
Uses ■ theological education ■ worship ■ lounge Cultural & Chronological Associations ■ Emmanuel College stained glass window ■ St. Chad College stained glass window ■ central stained glass window ■ Christian symbols (Christ symbol on windows, Christian symbols on large windows)
Emmanuel & St. Chad Chapel ■ 7-477