Guest house, Saint John's Abbey

GUEST HOUSE, SAINT JOHN'S ABBEY

Status: Construction Completed 2007
Location: Collegeville, Minnesota
Client: Saint John's Abbey
Size: 29,675 SF

In the 1950s, Marcel Breuer began his master plan for Saint John's Abbey and University. Breuer designed ten buildings for the monastic community over twenty years that were constructed largely of cast-in-place concrete. The majority of the projects were completed, but an important part of Breuer's master plan, the Abbey Guesthouse, was never designed. While respecting Breuer's work, the Abbey also requested that the new guesthouse also provide visitors with a direct experience of monastic life. Guest retreatants follow the same daily rhythms of study, work and meditation. The facility includes conference and meeting areas, a library, a meditation room, dining facilities, and administrative offices with thirty guest rooms.

Awards:
American Institute of Architects, Housing Award, 2009
American Institute of Architects Minnesota Honor Award, 2008
American Institute of Architects Minnesota Honor Award, 2007