CISTERCIAN SCIENCE BUILDING

IRVING, TEXAS | COMPLETED IN 2016

Cunningham Architects became engaged with the Cistercian School and Abbey in 1990. The Abbey and School came into existence in the early 1960s after the migration of a group of Monks from Zirc, Hungary to Irving, Texas. The pedagogical approach of the school falls very much in line with that of Covenant - it provides a Classical education within a strong Catholic and spiritual atmosphere.

Gary Cunningham attended the school from fourth grade through High School and was invited by the Monks to design his first project for the campus, the Chapel. The Chapel exemplifies the 900 year heritage of the Cistercian order while being a very modern building. Since that project, Cunningham Architects has been involved in many projects on the Cistercian campus. Projects include a new Library and Gym, the renovation of several 50 year old buildings, including the Upper and Middle School, the old Gymnasium, and converted a central plant building into an Arts and Music building. In 2016 we designed an addition for the Science Building. We have renovated the entire Abbey, while adding a new Abbey wing. We are presently building a new underground Crypt for the Monks next to the Chapel, as well as renovating a Convent building into a Retreat house.