Remarkable Modern: St. Daniel's Church in Lyncourt (Syracuse)

 
 Lyncourt (Syracuse), NY. St. Daniel's Roman Catholic church. Interior, view to altar. Pederson, Hueber Hares and Glavin, architects, 1965-67. Photo: Samuel D. Gruber 2016

 Lyncourt (Syracuse), NY. St. Daniel's Roman Catholic church. Court Street facade. Pederson, Hueber Hares and Glavin, architects, 1965-67. Photo: Samuel D. Gruber 2016

 Lyncourt (Syracuse), NY. St. Daniel's Roman Catholic church. This entrance corner under the spire anchors the building. Pederson, Hueber Hares and Glavin, architects, 1965-67. Photo: Samuel D. Gruber 2016

 

 Lyncourt (Syracuse), NY. St. Daniel's Roman Catholic church. Window wall seen from rear parking lot,. Pederson, Hueber Hares and Glavin, architects, 1965-67. Photo: Samuel D. Gruber 2016

Marvelous Modern: St. Daniel's Church in Lyncourt (Syracuse)
by Samuel D Gruber

I recently wrote a brief introduction to some of more interesting CNY churches and synagogues built in the last half century.  One church that I overlooked and which is one of the best designed, is St. Daniel's Church on Court Street in Lyncourt (Syracuse), near Teall Ave. Designed by Pederson, Hueber, Hares and Glavin, it was dedicated in April 1967. The shape and form of the church, inside and out, are exciting. The interior, entered by low small vestibule, is also inspirational, opening up to a rising angled roof and dominated by a vast stained window in the joined walls above the main altar.The architects were clearly inspired by the ear;y work of Louis Kahn. There is a remarkable similarity between the east elevation of the church and Kahn's so-called Trenton Bath House (1955).

 

Lyncourt (Syracuse), NY. St. Daniel's Roman Catholic church. View from the east. Pederson, Hueber Hares and Glavin, architects, 1965-67. Photo: Samuel D. Gruber 2016

Ewing Township, Mercer County, New Jersey. So-called Trenton Bath House. Louis Kahn, architect, 1955. Photo: APT Delaware Valley Chapter

Lyncourt (Syracuse), NY. St. Daniel's Roman Catholic church. Court Street facade. Pederson, Hueber Hares and Glavin, architects, 1965-67. Photo: Samuel D. Gruber 2016

Lyncourt (Syracuse), NY. St. Daniel's Roman Catholic church. Court Street entrance, dtl. Pederson, Hueber Hares and Glavin, architects, 1965-67. Photo: Samuel D. Gruber 2016

Work on the structure began on March 1, 1966 and on April 26, 1967  Bishop Walter A. Foery dedicated the new church The purpose was to replace a "temporary" mission church erected on the site in 1932-33, with a bigger a better building; one that could accommodate more parishioners (the parish became official in 1939), and also one that was better lit, heated and cooled. The early building designed by Paul Hueber was a simple cinder block structure (with soft pine trusses for the roof). 

The new church which seats 740, was built by the firm Hueber founded was more ambitious and  $500,000. The church was the last piece of an expanded parish complex the included a school gymnasium addition and convent, all designed by Pederson, Hueber, Hares and Glavin and erected between 1952 and 1960.

Read more on the history of St. Daniel's here.

Lyncourt (Syracuse), NY. St. Daniel's Roman Catholic church. East facade, passage towards school buildings.  Pederson, Hueber Hares and Glavin, architects, 1965-67

Lyncourt (Syracuse), NY. St. Daniel's Roman Catholic church. East facade, passage towards school buildings.  Pederson, Hueber Hares and Glavin, architects, 1965-67. Photo: Samuel D. Gruber 2016

 

Lyncourt (Syracuse), NY. St. Daniel's Roman Catholic church. View from the southeast. Pederson, Hueber Hares and Glavin, architects, 1965-67. Photo: Samuel D. Gruber 2016

I have not seen any pictures of the original church - but it apparently had stained glass windows made by Keck Studios, and these figurative windows - mostly representations of saints - were incorporated into the abstract design in the new church. Four other windows are set into the west walI, apart from the sanctuary. I have not yet learned what artist and studio made the enormous new window - but it is one of the best efforts of period in our region. 

Lyncourt (Syracuse), NY. St. Daniel's Roman Catholic church. Hueber Hares Glavin, architects, 1965-67. Photo: Samuel D. Gruber 2016

Lyncourt (Syracuse), NY. St. Daniel's Roman Catholic church. Hueber Hares Glavin, architects, 1965-67. Photo: Samuel D. Gruber 2016

Lyncourt (Syracuse), NY. St. Daniel's Roman Catholic church. One of four older windows installed on west wall. Pederson, Hueber Hares and Glavin, architects, 1965-67. Photo: Samuel D. Gruber 2016

Lyncourt (Syracuse), NY. St. Daniel's School.  Pederson, Hueber Hares and Glavin, architects, 1950s.