When the community of St. Joseph celebrated its 150th year in existence back in 1985, a unique commemorative structure was erected in Lake Bluff Park to mark the occasion. Designed those 31 years ago by John Allegretti and Arunas Rumsa of Allegretti Architects, the landmark pavilion was built to honor residents past, present and future as well as the sense of place and the sense of community it stood for. Now, the St. Joseph Sesquicentennial Pavilion overlooking Lake Michigan has earned a 25 Year Honor Award from the AIA Michigan Chapter to be presented this summer at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn.
The pavilion was built by Dan Shelton, Holland Construction Company of St. Joseph and Masonry Contractors Gordon & Ken Scribner of Berrien Springs. The design shares a symbolic interpretation of the elements that have given, and will continue to give, the community a unique identity.
Allegretti says that through the integration of the commemorative brick, the monument symbolizes the collective effort of individuals within the community that worked to support and carry out the goals and aspirations of the community and will continue to do so for the next 150 years.
The motto of the structure is to "reach into the future, but hold onto the past." The solution incorporates both a commemorative plaque and time capsule, and seeks to explain the historical pluralism of the community bounded by Lake Michigan and the St. Joseph River through interpretation of brick and sandstone.
The structure is open on all four sides, providing a stage set from which visitors can orchestrate their own views of the sandy beaches, the Lighthouse and Piers, the river, the lake bluff park and the old brick buildings of the central business district.
The structure along Lake Boulevard has been adopted by the community, serving as a wedding venue, a reunions destination, and a quiet place to view the lake and beaches. Additionally, it is described through the audio walking tour of the city and its history. During winter it is well-lighted and adds a festive element to the park and downtown.
The 25 Year Honor Award will be delivered on June 10th in Dearborn. The photo accompanying this story on Moody on the Market.com was taken by Don C. Johnson and provided by John Allegretti.
