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Immaculata Seminary Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
D.C. Inventory of Historic Sites
WCL's Capital Building, the former Immaculata Seminary, from Tenley Circle in 2019
Location	4300 Nebraska Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., United States
Coordinates	38°56′44″N 77°04′50″W
Area	8.2 acres (3.3 ha)
Built	c. 1839–2016
Website	Official website
NRHP reference No.	14000209
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	May 19, 2014
Designated DCIHS	October 27, 2011

The Immaculata Seminary Historic District, commonly known as Tenley Campus, is an 8.2-acre (3.3 ha) parcel of land, located off of Tenley Circle in the Northwest Washington, D.C. neighborhood of Tenleytown. The site of Dunblane, an early to mid-nineteenth century Federal/Greek Revival-style manor house, it was once part of a large country estate on the outskirts of the capital city, owned by a succession of prominent Georgetown residents. From 1904 to 1906, the land was acquired by the Catholic Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, who, for decades, operated all-girls primary, secondary, and postsecondary schools there under the Immaculata name, before being forced to shutter due to financial issues. Since 1986, it has been a satellite campus of American University, which purchased the site in part because of its proximity to Tenleytown station on the Red Line of the Washington Metro. It currently houses the school's Washington College of Law.

The district reflects Tenleytown's evolution from a rural Washington County community to a densely-populated streetcar suburb, as well as the Catholic Church's role in education, particularly of women, during the twentieth century. It was added to the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites in 2011 and the National Register of Historic Places in 2014. Development of the site that took place preceding the law school's move in 2016 preserved the existing character of outdoor spaces and incorporated historic structures, including Dunblane and the original 1905 A. O. Von Herbulis-designed seminary building, which has long stood prominently above passing traffic along Wisconsin Avenue.

Geography

Aerial view of Tenleytown from the southwest, looking towards Fort Reno Park and Wakefield. Tenley Campus is at bottom right.

Tenley Campus sits atop a knoll, fronting the western edge of Tenley Circle, at the intersection of Nebraska Avenue, Wisconsin Avenue, and Yuma Street NW in Northwest Washington, D.C.'s Tenleytown neighborhood. The eight acre Tenley Campus is bounded by Yuma Street NW to the north; Warren Street NW to the south; Nebraska Avenue NW and Tenley Circle NW to the east; and 42nd Street NW to the west.

The block to the north is mostly institutional in character. It contains St. Ann Catholic Church and its rectory, the former Convent de Bon Secours, Janney Elementary School, and the Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library, as well as the historic N. Webster Chappell House. The rest of the surrounding area is residential; American University Park is to the west, consisting almost entirely of single-family detached homes. American University's main campus is about a half a mile away, at the intersection of Nebraska and Massachusetts Avenues.

History

Country estate

Members of the Dumblane Hunt Club and foxhounds on the grounds of Dunblane, circa 1890, with manor house in the distance

The estate was rented to the Dumblane Club, a predecessor of today's Chevy Chase Club and the annually-held Potomac Hunt Races. Using Dunblane as a clubhouse, the club organized fox hunting and steeplechase events on the property.

Church use

Further information: Immaculata Preparatory School

View of Immaculata Seminary (left), shortly after its completion, from across Wisconsin Avenue. The second St. Ann church building, built in 1903, and its rectory are to the right.

In 1902, with the support of Father Joseph C. Mallon, pastor of St. Ann Catholic Church in Tenleytown, the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, an order of religious sisters based in Indiana, announced plans to open a religious school in northwest Washington on land purchased from St. Ann's rectory. Two years later, another plot of land, this one across the street, was bought to spare the rectory from demolition. The plans followed a request by Cardinal James Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, for the establishment of a "select school for girls" in the District. A new building for this purpose was designed by architect Albert Olszewski Von Herbulis, and, on July 2, 1904, the cornerstone was placed atop what the Sisters dubbed "Mount Marian."

Immaculata students in front of Dunblane, practicing their archery skills, circa 1907

The Seminary of Our Lady Immaculate – or "Immaculata," for short – was completed the following year. It was so named in honor of the golden jubilee of Pope Pius IX's Ineffabilis Deus, which defined the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. On September 8, the school hosted Cardinal Gibbons, who blessed the structure and then helped conduct a solemn high mass at St. Ann's; a sermon written for the occasion was given by F. X. McCarthy of Washington's St. Aloysius Church. Additional guests at the ceremonies included Bishop of Indianapolis Silas Chatard, President David H. Buel of Georgetown University, and other representatives of Catholic churches and organizations from around the region. Mother Superior Mary Cleophas Foley, also present, received a congratulatory letter from Cardinal Sebastiano Martinelli in Rome, passing along well-wishes on behalf of Pope Pius X. In 1906, the Sisters purchased the rear portion of the block, consolidating the land that would later comprise the U.S. historic district.

Immaculata Seminary, with 1921 dormitory addition visible, from Nebraska Avenue, circa 1929

Two Immaculata students walking outside Loretta Hall on Yuma Street, circa 1965. Immaculata Hall and its chapel can be seen on the left.

On December 8, 1955, the day of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Amleto Cicognani, Apostolic Delegate to the United States laid the cornerstones for three new buildings at Immaculata: Marian, Loretta, and Regina Halls.

Acquisition by American University

Capital Hall in 2006

In 1978, following the closure of Immaculata Junior College, American University began renting space in Marian Hall to address the need for additional student housing; shortly thereafter, they also started leasing Immaculata's gymnasium for evening use. AU officially took possession on December 4, 1986. After renovations were completed, the campus housed the university's Washington Semester and study abroad programs.

Purchased in 1987 by AU, Tenley Campus was acquired to alleviate space problems at the university's main campus. This campus was popular with interns because of its close proximity to the Tenleytown-AU Metro station on the WMATA Red Line. It was formerly home to the School of Professional & Extended Studies, including the Washington Semester Program, as well as University Publications, the Media Relations department, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

• Federal Hall—Housed 128 students; Contained the mailroom, computer lab, and dining hall (Tenley Café).
• Congressional Hall—Housed 173 students; contained reception desk and Resident Director's office.
• Constitution Building—Contained the Washington Semester Program, University Publications, Alumni Relations, and other administrative offices.

These offices and the buildings that housed them were largely demolished in 2013 to make way for a new home for the Washington College of Law. In 2016 a slew of new academic buildings designed by architectural firm SmithGroupJJR were completed, and the Washington College of Law was formally relocated to Tenley Campus.

The new law school was formally dedicated on February 12, 2016. In attendance were Mayor of the District of Columbia Muriel Bowser and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who gave the keynote address at the event.

Significant contributing properties

Immaculata Seminary and chapel (Capital Hall)

Designed by architect A. O. Von Herbulis and constructed in 1904, the academy building is a grand, three-story, five-part, lime s to ne-clad building executed in a restrained Baroque Revival style. The principal block of the building is defined by its rigid symmetry and its spare but exuberant use of classical elements, such as giant-order pilasters, semi-circular projecting bays in the wings, and an oversized central broken pediment. The building is set upon a raised, rusticated granite foundation and is capped by a flat roof with a broad Classical cornice. In 1921, an L-shaped addition, designed by architects Murphy and Olmsted for use as a dormitory, was built at the rear of the school towards the southwest end, continuing the same style, materials and treatment of the original section. At the same time, a sizeable brick chapel was constructed directly behind the main school and connected to the 1921 wing along the chapel’s southern side.

The p rincipal elevation of the building faces east and overlooks an ample front lawn to Wisconsin Avenue. The façade is divided into five parts: a narrow central entry pavilion with wider projecting wings connected by long, five-bay, three-story hyphens. The centra l p a vilio n projects just slightly from the main plane of the façade and consists of the main entry door on the first story and two stories of windows above framed by giant order pilasters. The actual entry door, raised above ground level and reached by a set of limestone stairs that are buttressed by granite stone walls, is deeply recessed into the façade. The entry surround, in front of the recessed doorway, is formed by flanking pilasters capped with oversized limestone consoles. A wid e lime s to ne lintel with a central keystone spans the entryway between the pilasters, and together with the consoles support a projecting cornice above. A solid parapet wall is located atop the cornice, providing a balcony space in front of the second-story window openings. In Baroque fashion, smooth curved walls to either side of the surround make the transition back to the wall plane of the main block of the building. The door itself is a double, multi-paned wood and glass replacement door with a half-round transom above.

Both stories above the central entry have a group of three one-over-one windows—one larger central one flanked by narrow side ones—set within the giant-order pilasters. At the second-story level, all three windows are capped by single-light transoms , while o nly the c e ntra l wind o w features a stone keystone decorative cap above the transom. At the third-story level there are no transoms; instead a central limestone keystone caps each of the three windows.

The piers at either end of the main façade are three-bays wide, with a graceful, half-round projecting window bays spanning the first and second stories. The piers are raised slightly above a rusticated granite base, but like the rest of the main block, have smooth limestone walls. The s e mi-c ir cular bay has four window openings on both the first and second stories, each with one-over-one sash and single-light transoms above. Recessed, blind panels separate the first and second stories, while a projecting stone stringcourse with a balustrade wall above culminates at the top. The third story rises above the projecting bay and has three, wider one-over-one windows separated by plain, limestone pilasters and capped by central keystones.

The connecting hyphens between the central pavilion and end piers extend five bays long and ris e the full thre e-story height of the main block. Each of the five bays consists of a single, narrow window opening. Those on the first and second stories have single-light tra ns o ms , while those of the third story do not. All of the windows across the façade have metal replacement sash that match the origina l one-over-one, wood windows in size and type, but not materials.

A continuous broad wood cornice with recessed panels and applied bas-re lie f mo ld ing in the frie ze extends across the entire facade of the building, stepping out with the end piers. A projecting cornice with modillions runs above the frieze, visually supported at the center and end wings by large wood brackets. A broken pediment rises above the cornice at the central pavilion, while balustraded railings cap the roof above the end piers.

The north side elevation of the main block faces Yuma Street and extends six bays deep. Each of these bays, save three on the first story towards the front of the building, has a single one-over-one window opening defining the bay. Again, the first- and second-story windows have s ingle-light tra ns o ms , while the third-story windows do not. The front bays on the first story of this e le va tio n d e via te fro m the rigid window regularity by offering a projecting window bay and a door. This window bay is rectangular, supported by a rusticated granite base, and is capped by a copper-clad, half-onion-dome roof. The s mo oth lime s to ne wa lls have a pair of windows in the fro nt wa ll. Raised above the rusticated foundation, the entry bay is set flush with the main wall plane. It is reached by concrete steps buttressed by granite walls and has a pair of wood and glass replacement doors. A large divided transom surmounts the door, while a large keystone caps the center of the lintel stone above the transom.

The south elevation of the building includes the original end wall of the main block of the building, plus the south side and south end wall of the 1921 L-shaped addition. The addition almost doubles the length of the original main block to the west along the same plane; a shorter bar of the wing then projects forward from and perpendicular to it, forming an L-shaped footprint. The extension of the original end wall is barely noticeable, the limestone of the addition having been toothed into the original and having almost the same warm pinkish-white c o lo r. The s o uth e nd wa ll o f the p ro je c ting wing a d d itio n s imila rly me rge s s e a mle s s ly with the o rigina l, a s the lime s to ne wa lls match in color, the window openings match in size and symmetrical placement, and the wood cornice continues uninterrupted. An entry is located on this elevation, just at the point where the main block and the addition come together. The entry into this 1921 addition is clearly identified by a pair of double metal-and-glass replacement doors and a flat, metal awning, hung from the wall by diagonal cables. Two stone piers with lamp standards frame this entryway.

The wing of the “L-shaped” addition projects forward from the main block and its extension. Its limestone walls have three principal bays of narrow single openings on the first and second stories. O n the third story, single windows at the end bays fla nk a set of three windows on-center o f the wa ll. Two bas relief panels with shields are located to either side of the central window on the second story of this wall.

The west (rear) elevation of the ma in 1 9 0 4 s c ho o l b uild ing is the le a s t a rtic ula te d o f the b uild ing’s elevations. The walls are constructed of brick (not clad in limestone as are the principal and side elevations) and there is no cornice (the broad and character-defining cornice does not continue across this rear wall. The windows are currently boarded up in preparation fora rear addition. The west (rear) addition of the 1921 wing is a ls o no t a s fine ly d e ta ile d . The walls are brick rather than limestone and the cornice does not continue around to this e le va tio n. The windows are long and narrow rectangular openings punched into the brick walls.

The interior of the 1904 Immaculata Se mina ry is entered directly from the central entrance door on the northeastern façade of the building. The door opens into a gracious reception area with polished beige-colored marble floors, white marble wainscoting, and black marble baseboards. A central archway leads from the reception area directly to a steep, marble stair with a transverse corridor passing to either side and providing access to the length of the building. The central staircase rises to a landing where then two flights to either side, ascend to the second floor. The s ta ir is no ta b le with white marble treads and risers and a distinctive wrought iron railing with the ra iling b a lus te rs fo rming the le tte r “I” fo r Imma c ula ta . This d is tinc tive iro n ra iling c o ntinue s from the first floor to the landing, and from the landing to the second floor on both flights. At the second floor, the stair changes with wooden railings and turned wooden balusters replacing the iron ones. Historically, the administrative rooms and classrooms were located on the first and second floors, while the dormitory occupied the third floor. The change in the stair treatment from wrought iron to wood was likely done to denote the change in use from institutional to residential. The typical hallways on all three floors have arched openings divding the lo ng wa lk wa ys , ma rb le wainstcoting with plaster walls above. The ceilings have dropped acoustical tiles and the floors are carpeted.

The chapel, designed by Frederck Murphy of the architecture firm of Murphy & Olmsted and built in 1921, is a double-he ight b a s ilic a n-plan structure set upon a raised basement level, clad with buff brick and covered with a gable roof. It is sited at the rear of the original Immaculata school building, with a service court between them. The building extends northeast to southwest, with the front gable end facing northeast towards the service courtyard and the rear apse-end facing the formerly grassy student quad. In the 1950s, an enclosed walkway at the second story was built to connect the 1904 Immaculata building direct with the sanctuary in the chapel. This walkway has been recently removed, re-exposing the chapel’s front facade. Th is façade consists of a buff brick transept wing running perpendicular to the building’s gable ro o fline, b ut ris ing a lmo s t its full he ight. A slightly projecting bay at the center of this transept has door openings at both the ground level and second story level. The second-story door provides direct access into the sanctuary. A limestone roundel with a cross carved on is located above this door in the gable end of the projecting bay. To either side of the central entry bay are single window openings, most of which are currently boarded up as part of the renovation. The chapel’s side elevations both extend five bays long and are characterized by double-height, round-arched stained glass windows. The raised foundation level has square window openings symmetrically placed below the stained glass ones. Each of these gound-level windows features a s mo o th lime s to ne linte l. The rear of the chapel has a double-height apse on-center of and projecting from the gable-end o f the b uild ing, with lower one-story gable-roofed transept wings to either side. The apse itself has arched windows in the side walls, while the lower wings have one-over-one window openings on all three exposed surfaces. Like the front transept, the rear apse has a corbelled brick cornice, but little other ornamentation. At its southern side, the chapel abuts the end wall of the 1921 L-shaped wing to the main school building. Until 2013, the chapel connected to a 1950s building (C o ns titutio n Ha ll) to its north via a two-story, buff-brick arcade. The 1950s wing and this arcade have been removed.

The interior of the chapel is entred from a second-story covered walkway connecting the front s c ho o l b uild ing to the chapel. A pair of double doors opens into the sanctuary, revealing a low-pitched groin vaulted space free of interior columns. Each of the five vaults springs from imposts atop double-story pilasters dividing the interior into five bays that correspond with the exterior bays. Each of these is articulated by the double-height round-arched stained glass windows on the side walls. The stained-glass windows allow for generaous light and air, as each one has operable central-pivot lower sashes. Original light fixtures are located on the pilasters on both sides further illuminating the sanctuary. The apse is located opposite the entry doors leading into the sanctuary, while a balcony level is located directly above the doors. This balcony projects over the door, and is supported by massive carved console brackets with a balustrade above. A broad round arch opening separates the projecting balcony from the balcony seating area.

Dunblane

Dunblane, with its 1935 and 1974 additions visible at left

The original and principal core of Dunblane is a two-story, three-bay cube-lik e d we lling constructed circa 1839 and executed in a Greek Revival-style of architecture. It is set upon a raised foundation, has stone walls clad with a smooth stucco finish, and is covered with a pyramidal hipped roof, capped by a central cupola. Photographs dating to the 1930s show a s ma ll c himney located to the east of the cupola, no longer extant. Several large additions extend from the original core, notably a mid-19th century, two-story, three-bay, hipped roof block which abuts its northwestern s id e. O n the opposite, southeastern s id e o f the o rigina l c o re, a two-story wing was added to the main block in 1935. Another sizeable, but low-lying, single-story addition further enlarged the b uild ing in the mid-1970s towards the south. Although the main b lo c k o f Dunb la ne re ta ins its o rigina l ma s s ing and its s to ne wa lls behind the stucco finish, it ha s essentially been entirely rebuilt since suffering a ma jo r fir e in 1997. The front of the main block of the house faces easterly and is divided into three bays with a wider entry bay on the side and two e q ua l wind o w b a ys , re fle c ting the o rigina l s id e-passage, room-behind-room plan. The first story consists of a side entry door with single windows to either side, while the second story has three single windows. All of the windows have original stone sills , s ix-over-six, double-hung wood replacement sash set within plain wood window trim with no linte ls or shutters. The entry features a robust and relatively plain Greek Revival-s tyle engaged architrave surround. P la in c o lumns with caps that are neither Tuscan nor Doric support a wide and plain frieze board which is in turn surmounted by a projecting cornice visually bolstered by wood modillions. The cornice, divided into four classically inspired parts, includes a plain bed moulding at the bottom, a narrow soffit and a cavetto fascia board on center, and a boxed crown molding at the cap. Much of this door surround, however, is a reproduction, including the pilasters, frieze and cornice, as the original did not survive the 1997 fire . A s ingle , s ix-paneled “cross and bible” wood replacement door is centered within the door surround with sidelights and a single-light transom.

The original paneled entry sides and top have been obscured somewhat by the constructio n of a new door jamb which intrudes on the extant wood paneling. The northwestern side of the main block has a two-story wing, clad with stucco, attached to it. This wing, likely dating to the 1850s, is massed similarly to the main block and has hipped roof intersecting with the main roof. Much of this wing was destroyed by the fire, but it was reconstructed. A flat roofed addition from the 1930s abuts the southwest wall of the main core, but is recessed from its façade. Connected to the 1930s L-shaped addition is a utilitarian 1974 addition, connected to the addition by an enclosed corridor with an aluminum-clad roof. The 1974 classroom addition is c la d in p re-cast concrete panels, which have a rough finish similar to the stucco of the main block and 1930s wing. The condition of the stucco is poor on every façade of the building

Garage and laundry

1921 garage and laundry building, currently used by American University facilities management

The garage and laundry building, built in 1921, is a one-story hollow tile and concrete block structure clad with stucco and covered with a hipped, slate-clad roof with wide eaves and exposed rafter ends. The service building has a variety of doors and windows, including double garage door openings, single pedestrian doors, and single, double-hung windows with 1/1 replacement sash. According to the original D.C. Permit to Build, the building was constructed by the Sisters of Providence for use as a private garage and laundry.

Present use

An American University shuttle on its way down Nebraska Avenue stops in front of WCL's Warren Building, home to the Pence Law Library.

Main article: Washington College of Law

New and Renovated Buildings (c. 2016):

• Capital Hall-Older but newly renovated former cathedral. Houses law school admissions and administrative services.
• Warren Building-Completely new academic building. Features various classrooms, offices and the Pence Law Library.
• Yuma Building-Another completely new academic building. Houses a number of classrooms, faculty offices, and other academic and administrative spaces.

Tenley Campus's buildings are Gold-certified by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in western Washington, D.C.
• Dumblane, an NHRP-listed home built in 1911, across Warren Street from the Immaculata campus

External links

• American University Washington College of Law
• Tenleytown Historical Society

Category:American University Category:Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington, D.C. Category:Historic districts in Washington, D.C. Category:National Register of Historic Places in Washington, D.C. Category:Washington, D.C.