In May 2016 Alcuin Library at Saint John’s University closed its doors for a year of renovation and the addition of the Dietrich Reinhart Learning Commons. The Library was designed by the Bauhaus architect Marcel Breuer, and it remains one of his signature works.
Through the years clutter — including vast amounts of government documents — overwhelmed the main floor. All that has been cleaned out, and the renovated space will restore the extraordinary lines that once greeted visitors. Among the features of the adaptation has been the removal of a wall that had blocked an exterior view of the Abbey church. A new glass wall now opens up a spectacular vista of the church, and it symbolizes the conversation between faith and reason. Happily, when the architects reviewed the plans with one of Breuer’s architectural partners, the latter concluded that Breuer would love the change. The technology of his day did not allow for such a glass wall, however.
Included in the renovation are a new gallery for The Saint John’s Bible, as well as a purpose-built special collections department. The collections of rare books and manuscripts began to accumulate when the monks settled in Collegeville and unpacked the boxes of books they had brought with them from Bavaria. Since then the collections have grown into a very significant resource, and at last there will be suitable storage as well as a reading room for researchers.
[To enlarge, simply click on each photo.]
New Window overlooking the football stadium
