University of St. Francis Awarded Joliet’s Historic Preservation Award

From the University of St. Francis:

JOLIET, IL — The University of St. Francis was awarded the City of Joliet’s 12th annual Joliet Historic Preservation Award at a city council meeting on May 16. The award, presented by Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk in celebration of Preservation Month, was accepted on behalf of USF President Dr. Arvid Johnson by Regina Block, USF’s director of Institutional Advancement, and Frank Pascoe, USF provost.

"As Joliet's university, the University of St. Francis is particularly pleased with this recognition by and our long-time partnership with the City of Joliet," Johnson said. "Our mission calls us to be a 'welcoming community of learners' and that includes ensuring that our facilities and grounds support and complement that mission. As we plan and build for our future, the university looks forward to working with the City of Joliet and the Cathedral Area Preservation Association to continue our commitment to a welcoming environment."

USF was honored for renovations made at the St. Clare Campus, 1550 Plainfield Rd., Joliet. Guardian Angel Hall, the main building on the St. Clare Campus, was previously known in Joliet as the “Guardian Angel Home.” It was built in 1925 and dedicated in 1926 by Cardinal Mundelein as a home for orphaned and dependent children. The Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, USF’s founders, operated and staffed the home and its social service agencies for nearly 90 years until the University of St. Francis bought the property and buildings from the congregation in 2014.

The city honored USF with the same preservation award two years ago for its renovation and adaptive re-use of the former Mode Theater building in downtown Joliet and the Motherhouse building on the main campus. The 2017 award now highlights the university’s efforts to preserve its St. Clare Campus through a complete interior renovation and adaptive re-use of the Guardian Angel Hall building and surrounding property, including preservation of the main interior hallways, and significant site improvements such as new parking lots, storm water detention and landscaping.

The University of St. Francis has also placed an emphasis on including and highlighting native plants on the three acres of green space at the St. Clare Campus. Special efforts were made to preserve the natural Illinois plant habitat and showcase its beauty. In an addition to native plants, the university also planted Butterfly Milkweed to nurture and stimulate a decreasing butterfly population. Many of the plants will be in full bloom in the upcoming summer months.

image via University of St. Francis