ST EDWARD HIGH SCHOOL - ST JOEPH COURTYARD

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Location: Lakewood, Ohio

Type: Educational

Year: 2023-2024

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For decades, a statue of St Joseph was position in a landscaped grotto on the western edge of the campus.  It was a place where teams would gather before games for a prayer and would watch over the campus.  As the building and program needs of the campus expanded, the statue was placed into storage, where it remained until late 2023, when the Payto Architects team was approached by the SEHS team to design a new home for this influential statue.  The north side of the Kahl Center for Leadership had long been a highly travel space that was short on identity.  Its connection to the athletics field and north side of the campus made it a highly traveled hub of activity, in need of organization and a sense of place.  Through the generosity of the Marcellino Family, the St Joseph courtyard took shape over the summer of 2024 and was open for fall.  A central raised yet approachable platform was created and surrounded by a permanent seating gallery.  A tapestry of contrasting pavers radiates from the central position of St Joseph to make him not only a central focus of this plaza but to create a timeless sense of place that can adapt as the use of this area changes.  Lighting was integrated to accentuate not only the statue but to add to the visual depth and character of the space.

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