Location Photos
Gailliot Center for Newman Studies
The National Institute for Newman Studies was founded in Chicago in 2002. It moved to Pittsburgh in 2003, and is dedicated to providing opportunities for dialogue and research on the philosophies and writings of John Henry Newman (1801–1890), the influential Anglican leader of the Oxford movement who became a Roman Catholic priest and rose to the rank of Cardinal. Newman founded the Oratories of St. Philip Neri in Birmingham and London.
The Gailliot Center for Newman Studies located at 211 N. Dithridge Street opened in August 2007. It is a 13,600 square foot, 2-story building with a full basement, which was built in 2006–2007. P.J. Dick, Inc. was the construction manager and general contractor; David J. Vater, RA, Inc. served as architect.
The Gailliot Center for Newman Studies contains the offices of the National Institute for Newman Studies, the Newman Association of America, the Newman Studies Journal, the Newman Knowledge Kiosk (a digital library), and a scholar's library focused on Cardinal Newman's writings and related topics (the largest such collection in the Americas). There are also living accommodations for four visiting scholars, and a meditation chapel.
The Building's Exterior
The building's design is executed in the Tudor Revival style to provide a symbolic connection to Newman's English heritage, a visual connection to the Oratory/Ryan Catholic Newman Center around the corner at 4450 Bayard Street, as well as to compliment the traditional architecture of the Bellefield-Schenley Farms neighborhood.
The exterior materials are a red brick, typical of 19th century Pittsburgh. Black header bricks are used for the diaper (interlocking diamond) pattern on the towers. Cast stone trims include belt courses, copings, window sills, cartoches, mouse toothings, ball finials, urns, columns, and balustrade. The roof is a slate-colored asphalt shingle, with two parapeted gables at the front and is hipped in the back.
Early in the design process the Director of the National Institute for Newman Studies, the Very Reverend Drew Morgan, C.O., Ph.D., suggested that, "the function of the library is to give out information so the inclusion of a clock tower would be an appropriate and immediate reminder of our goal." The corner clock tower is 86 feet high from the ground to the top of the urns. The tower clock has four 6 foot diameter illuminated faces. The tower encloses vertical circulation (the elevator and a stair). The urns atop the tower symbolize that the building contains knowledge of great value.
The pointed Gothic arch at the entrance porch signifies striving for growth in the spriitual life. The cast stone crest is the coat of arms of Cardinal Newman. The Latin inscription "Cor ad Cor Loquitur" means "Heart speaks to Heart." The hat above and the braided tassels signify his appointment as Cardinal. The eight-pointed star is the symbol of the Oratorians, the religious order which Newman joined.
The Chapel
The meditation chapel is located on the lower level to proved a place for quiet contemplation. It has a light gray granite floor with inset diamonds and borders of charcoal granite. The walls have European textured plaster and two lancet arch niches hold antique porcelain statues of the blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph. There are also two marble-lined niches with Holy water fonts near the entrance doors.
The altar is of stained wood with three antque early 19th century hand-carved white marble panels. The front panel depicts the Agnes Dei (Lamb of God) with the resurrection banner and sun rays. The lamb lies upon the book of Seven Seals. It symbolizes Christ's victory over death and the opening of heaven. The two side panels represent the sacred elements of the Eucharist with heads of wheat for the bread of life, and clusters of grapes to signify the sacred wine. Each panel is bordered by carved Gothic tracery.
On the wall above the reredos is a circular antique European stained-glass that depicts Christ the King, wearing a crown, regal robes and holding an orb, seated in majesty among the clouds before the rising sun, bordered by elaborate Gothic tracery. The ceiling has an English Tudor style plaster strapwork around the perimeter of the room. Individual Jacobean style turned-wood arm chairs with upholstered seats are used instead of the pews.
The Stained Glass Window
The sixteen panel oriel window contains fourteen antique stained glass windows salvaged from the now closed lower chapel of St. Polycarp Catholic Church in Somerville, Massachesetts, near Boston. Two new panels were made to match the old. The crests within the window represent the twelve Apostles, the four Evangelists, and two significant Oratorians, reading left to right they are identified follows:
Crest & Person
Club, St. James the Less, Apostle
Axe and Bible, St. Matthias, Apostle
Winged Man, St. Matthew, Evangelist
Winged Lion, St. Mark, Evangelist
Winged Ox, St. Luke, Evangelist
Eagle, St. John, Evangelist and Apostle
Three Scallop Shells, St. James the Great, Apostle
Three Knives, St. Bartholomew, Apostle
Sailing Ship, St. Jude, Apostle
X-Cross, St. Andrew, Apostle
Crossed Keys, St. Peter, Apostle
Three Stars, St. Philip Neri, Founder of Oratory
Three Hearts, John Cardinal Newman, Oratorian
Cross and Book, St. Philip, Apostle
Fish and Book, St. Simon Zelotes, Apostle
Spear and Carpenter's Square, St. Thomas, Apostle
The Library
The main architectural space within the building is the wood-paneled Newman Research Library which has two-story open atrium. The library is designed to accommodate 12,000 volumes. The first floor bookcases are configured to form traditional book stalls on the first floor and to line the walls on the second floor. The atrium railing is of custom wrought-iron in an arched Elizabethan pattern, and is lettered in gold with the first and third stanzas of Cardinal Newman's most famous poem, "Lead Kindly Light."
The library walls and ceiling have European textured plaster. The ceiling has four transverse beams and is divided into 21 bays of wood trims highlighted with metallic leaf. There are ten hand carved wooden angel brackets also finished with metallic leaf. Windows and doors have diamond-paned leaded glass. The bronze portrait bust of Cardinal Newman was modeled after one in England by Pittsburgh sculptor Susan Wagner.
The Gardens
The site is fully landscaped with trees and shrubbery. There are no grass lawns. Trees include scarlet maple, aristocrat pear, sweet bay magnolia, and Serbian spruce. Shrubs include Hinoki cypress, Shasta viburnum, blue star juniper, white azalea, and oak leaf hydrangea. Perennial flowers include red epimedium, Stella daylilies, blue cadet hosta, and may night meadow sage.
The back patio has exposed-aggregate concrete pavement and a cast stone Gothic style jardiniere is located at the center of the semi-circle of evergreens to serve as a visual focus to the garden when viewed from the patio or the library.
Other Interior Spaces
The entrance lobby has a porcelain tile floor, laid on the diagonal, a concealed light cove in the ceiling, and twin polished brass chandeliers. There are two lancet arched niches which contain Italian hand-carved wood statues of St. Philip Neri and Cardinal Newman. The front desk has a Vistorian antique mahogany face of interlocking Elizabethan style raised wood panels.
The four suites for visiting scholars each consist of a den, bedroom, built-in countertop with drawers, closet, bath room, and a private porch or patio. Two of the scholar's suites are fully handicapped accessible. The scholar's lounge, on the second floor, provides a comfortable place for dining, relaxing, conversation, or viewing television, and is served by a full kitchen. The offices are finished with carpeting, painted walls and ceilings, stained paneled wood doors and trims, and large grouped windows with transoms. The building has an elevator, two fire exit stairs, a laundry room, maintenance room, trash room, mechanical and storage rooms, and five automobile garages and two exterior visitor parking spaces.
