On Labor Day weekend we went to Pittsburgh, PA. We saw several interesting attractions including Biblical Garden and PPJ complex, but the most interesting for us and definitely most unique, was the Cathedral of Learning.
Perhaps the best-known building in Pittsburgh and the second tallest academic building in the world after Moscow State University, the Cathedral of Learning is a 42-story building used by the University of Pittsburgh. Dedicated in 1937 and a registered historical landmark, the building features classrooms, offices and libraries as well as the "Commons Room," a Gothic-style hallway souring four stories high, and the "Nationality Classrooms," ornately-styled classrooms designed in the style of a particular country.
You enter each room through a gigantic, heavy, wooden door - notice the details on the doorknobs and the doors themselves - amazing. Then each room is a treasure of art, history and culture. Be sure to look at the ceilings - many are decorated.
These 28 rooms, and the Commons Room that located in the center, are beyond description- they have to be seen to be believed (the University has received room reservation requests from seven additional Nationality Room Committees which are in various stages of fund raising and room design). Of course, I cannot tell you about each of them, but just would like to mention my favorite ones.
The Ukrainian Classroom is designed in Baroque style with richly carved wood and colorful ceramics. The lintel inscription commemorates Ukraine's millennium of Christianity (988-1988). The stove tiles depict festival practices and daily life. The chalkboard doors bearing the Tree of Life are surmounted by three Cyrillic alphabets used in Ukraine in the 11th, 17th, and 19th centuries.
There are several ways to experience the rooms:
Recorded tour, describing the rooms’ elements allows guests to proceed through the rooms at their own pace. Beginning with the Israel Heritage Room in 1987, each third-floor Nationality Room has its own narrated tour which can run from five to eight minutes.
When school is in session the rooms function as university classrooms, so audiotape tours are only available on weekends.
School is out of session from the end of April to the beginning of the Fall Term in September. During this time, audiotape tours are available Sundays through Saturdays.
Fees: Adults $4; Youths (6-18 years) $2
Online : You can see images of the rooms with accompanying text and audio descriptions online. Visit http://www.pitt.edu/~natrooms/pages/allnr.html and choose between the first and third floor rooms.
For driving direction please go to http://www.nationalityroom.pitt.edu/directions
Perhaps the best-known building in Pittsburgh and the second tallest academic building in the world after Moscow State University, the Cathedral of Learning is a 42-story building used by the University of Pittsburgh. Dedicated in 1937 and a registered historical landmark, the building features classrooms, offices and libraries as well as the "Commons Room," a Gothic-style hallway souring four stories high, and the "Nationality Classrooms," ornately-styled classrooms designed in the style of a particular country.
You enter each room through a gigantic, heavy, wooden door - notice the details on the doorknobs and the doors themselves - amazing. Then each room is a treasure of art, history and culture. Be sure to look at the ceilings - many are decorated.
These 28 rooms, and the Commons Room that located in the center, are beyond description- they have to be seen to be believed (the University has received room reservation requests from seven additional Nationality Room Committees which are in various stages of fund raising and room design). Of course, I cannot tell you about each of them, but just would like to mention my favorite ones.
The Indian Classroom is modeled on a typical 4th-9th century AD courtyard from Nalanda University, a Buddhist monastic university in Nalanda. The room depicts a classroom courtyard at Nalanda.
The Israel Heritage Room - the elegant simplicity of a 1st-century Galilean stone dwelling or house of assembly inspired the design of this room. Stone benches, patterned after those in the 2nd-3rd century synagogue of Capernaum, provide student seating. The oak entrance door panels bear the Ten Commandments carved in Hebrew. A scroll fragment in the rear case replicates the Dead Sea Isaiah Scroll segment. Ancient wine jars flank the scroll.
The Turkish Nationality Room, opened in May 2012, is designed to represent the “main room” in a traditional Turkish house with seating along the walls, surrounding the central open area. There is an entrance gallery area separating the main room from the entrance for privacy. The gallery space is adorned with four ceramic panels and a life size scene from 1928, depicting Kemal Atatürk instructing the Turkish nation on the Latin alphabet adopted as the legal script of modern Turkey. Another major feature of the Turkish Nationality Room is a 6’ by 20’ wall mural depicting a view of Istanbul behind what looks like a picture window on the east wall of the room. The Ukrainian Classroom is designed in Baroque style with richly carved wood and colorful ceramics. The lintel inscription commemorates Ukraine's millennium of Christianity (988-1988). The stove tiles depict festival practices and daily life. The chalkboard doors bearing the Tree of Life are surmounted by three Cyrillic alphabets used in Ukraine in the 11th, 17th, and 19th centuries.
There are several ways to experience the rooms:
Recorded tour, describing the rooms’ elements allows guests to proceed through the rooms at their own pace. Beginning with the Israel Heritage Room in 1987, each third-floor Nationality Room has its own narrated tour which can run from five to eight minutes.
When school is in session the rooms function as university classrooms, so audiotape tours are only available on weekends.
School is out of session from the end of April to the beginning of the Fall Term in September. During this time, audiotape tours are available Sundays through Saturdays.
Fees: Adults $4; Youths (6-18 years) $2
Online : You can see images of the rooms with accompanying text and audio descriptions online. Visit http://www.pitt.edu/~natrooms/pages/allnr.html and choose between the first and third floor rooms.
For driving direction please go to http://www.nationalityroom.pitt.edu/directions
No comments:
Post a Comment