The Saint Pius X Education Center is conceived as a place of learning for all ages. Located in a suburban area outside of South Bend, Indiana, the new education center reflects the tradition of Catholic architecture and particularly that of Northern Italy where St. Pius X was born. The building is a two-story brick and limestone structure. The front entrance is a two-story arcade with Pius X’s motto “To Renew All Things in Christ” and his coat of arms in the pediment. Large windows provide generous natural lighting and ventilation to all of the classrooms.
The education center connects to the existing church and parish center so as to facilitate use by the parish, priests and staff. An arcaded courtyard has a garden and is seen as a place for classes, prayer services and parish receptions. The focus of the courtyard will be a shrine dedicated to the Virgin, in her role as mother of the Church and Seat of Wisdom.
Inside, a two-story lobby is designed with images from the life of St. Pius X corresponding with images from the life of Christ. Inscriptions such as “Let the little children come to me…” are placed within the frieze. The library is a two-story room with numerous windows, bookshelves along the walls and a fireplace at one end. The full size gym has a stage and locker rooms and a lobby facing the courtyard. Classrooms for grades K–8, as well as for science, art and music, are connected by generous terazzo corridors.
