Episcopal Divinity School (former)
between Spruce and Locust, and 42nd and 43rd Streets
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1922-26: Zantznger, Borie & Medary, architects
1951-61: Zanzinger, architect; Borie & Smith, architects[From West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District inventory]
Campus complex of six schist stone, Collegiate Gothic Revival buildings largely clustered on the eastern third of an otherwise open block bordered by 42nd, 43rd, Locust and Spruce Streets.
The group, regarded as one of the most significant college plans in American history during its construction, consists of: two residential-scale buildings, St. Peter's House (1924) at the southwest corner of the block (4243 Spruce St.), originally built as the deanery; and St. Paul's house (1925), located to the west of the chapel and used for the school's administration, Dean's office, common room and dormitory rooms. Four highly vertical structures forming three sides of a cloister-like courtyard, including: The William Bacon Stevens Library (1922), housing a long reading room and stack area and designed in the Tudor Gothic style after the late Medieval great halls of England; St. Andrew's Chapel (1926), considered the crown jewel of the group, located at the highest site on the block; Memorial Hall (1951) with dormitory and classrooms; and Hart Hall (1955) with a refectory (dining room) and additional living quarters.
The chapel soars 74 feet above the high ground, its steeply pitched gable roof capped by an elaborately detailed fleche. The interior features an English collegiate plan, with groups of pews parallel to the nave walls facing each other across a central aisle, and is richly decorated with D'Ascenzo stained glass, Yellin wrought iron gates, Enfield ceramic tiles, and intricately carved choir stalls, much of it executed in memory of Medary, the principal architect who died before the chapel was completed. The entire complex is sheathed in dressed schist with case stone trim, with thick slabs of slate for the roofs.
Several one story gabled roof stuccoed structures have recently been added, c. 1980. The open space to the west of the complex was carefully designed to preserve the unusual, major growth of mature trees that existed on the site.
The complex is now owned by the University of Pennsylvania and is leased to a series of educational and social service entities, including the private High School for the Performing Arts.
Brick sidewalks enclose property.