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The Immaculata Seminary Historic District, commonly known as Tenley Campus, is an 8.2 acre 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
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.

Country estate
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
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." 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. 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
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.

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
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
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


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).