Photo courtesy of NWCB St. Joseph Seminary’s main chapel has a curved wall section and an acoustically designed suspended ceiling.

St. Joseph Seminary and Newman College is a learning institution, living quarters and theological college for the training of Catholic priests.

The first and second floor axial load-bearing walls in the seminarian section of the building were constructed with lightweight structural steel stud framing that was assembled using a compression table. The second level consists of a ComFlor composite floor system with a cantilevered section of ComFlor overlooking the courtyard from the west side of the seminarian suites. The roof was constructed of lightweight load-bearing joist studs.

Newman College and sections of St. Joseph Seminary’s exterior walls were constructed with lateral load-bearing lightweight steel stud framing. All exterior walls on both buildings were sheeted with Protecto Shield AVM sheathing.

The main chapel has a section of complex curved walls and an elaborate acoustically designed suspended ceiling.

The focal point of the ceiling is an ellipse that is entwined with an intricate pattern of bulkheads built at various elevations. The walls and ceiling are both constructed with lightweight steel stud framing that is sheeted with StarSilent acoustic sound board and finished with StarSilent acoustic plaster.

Throughout the two buildings there are other various interior finishes such as venetian plaster, Compasso trim, Hunter Douglas Techstyle acoustic ceilings, brass and Trim-Tex reveals, Chicago Metallic grid, and Armstrong Optima mylar and dune acoustic ceiling tiles. All the interior walls were insulated with Owens Corning QuietZone insulation and Roxul mineral fiber insulation.

Judge’s comment: “The architectural design and the wall and ceiling work have created a beautiful interior sculpture.”