St. Joseph Seminary – Catholic Archdiocese

Edmonton has been home to St. Joseph Seminary and Newman Theological College since 1927. As the college and seminary expanded over the years, it moved several times.  In 2007, DIALOG was commissioned to design their new home at 84 Street and 98th Avenue. This extraordinarily beautiful site at the crest of the North Saskatchewan River bank overlooking downtown Edmonton became an enduring, elegant symbol of Catholic faith in the community when the seminary opened in September 2010. Reverend Richard Smith, Archbishop of Edmonton, made a statement at the outset of the project:  “The Catholic Church thinks in hundreds of years”.  The one simple phrase helped shape every aspect of the design, guiding the project team to create a beautiful Seminary and College with a sense of permanence, a modern rendition of traditional church architecture with timeless elegance. The design of the Seminary speaks to faith and community. It is grounded in the history and tradition of religious architecture with spaces for learning, prayer, community and contemplation. At the same time, it is open and inviting, the embodiment of a contemporary and vital institution with strong connections to the broader community. It is sustainable and enduring architecture, appropriate and respectful of its surroundings. At the heart of the Seminary is the chapel.   Its white concrete walls, embracing curves, stained glass windows and dark sandstone floors create a movingly spiritual space. A walled garden extends the chapel outward to engage nature, a quiet, contemplative outdoor space in the middle of an active urban environment. Project Scope includes 7,600 square meters of space for the Seminary including the chapel, meeting rooms, residences and administrative offices for the seminarians.