The Dominican Priory of St. Albert the Great is located on
the University of Dallas Campus and is home to twelve Friars. As part of the expanding growth of the
University, the Priory was relocated to another area of the campus.
Nestled into the site, the new facility looks out over a
rolling green meadow and up the forested hillside. Maximizing natural light and using that light
to define circulation and space is one of the key design elements for this
residence and Chapel. The 14,000 SF
facility consists of a 75 person Chapel; a common activity room, library, 12
resident rooms, a Prior’s suite, a guest suite, and a large banquet style
dining room.
The steep hillside, with all its trees and natural slope,
provides for a glorious shaded path from the visitor parking to the front entry
courtyard and provide for resident’s parking under the building, minimizing the
impact on the site. Along the path, the visitors enjoy views of the meadow as
they meander around an expansive canopy tree on their way to the stone and
copper-faced Chapel. Once inside, views
are framed to capture the shade tree as well as the meadow, and the sky. The ceiling of the Chapel steps up with a
series of light coves as the volume increases toward the altar, filling the
space with a blend of natural and artificial light.
Clerestory windows flood the residence corridor with natural
light, as well. The residence level sits
over the common spaces, kitchen, dining room, library, and community room, which
when combined with the lobby; help define the realms of private, common and
public.
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