The International Institute Has Moved Into St. Elizabeth’s—and is Offering Guided Tours

The International Institute has not gradually moved into the old St. Elizabeth’s High School on Arsenal Avenue in the Tower Grove East neighborhood—they’re completely moved in. While some construction work is continuing, on a recent visit this author found the International Institute staff and clients busy at work, learning English or studying for their U.S. citizenship class. The Institute is now offering guided tours of the complex on the last Wednesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. (RSVP to info@iistl.org required). Guided by Institute employee Carrie Brickey, the tour showed that the staff and clients are taking advantage of the vast amount of new space available in the old high school and convent.

The International Institute’s former location, on South Grand, had outlived its usefulness. A former car dealership, the building was certainly built strong to support the weight of automobiles, but lacked certain creature comforts—like exterior windows. An abundance of windows is perhaps the hallmark of the new location. Additionally, the unique, lamella roof gymnasium will be available for rent to outside groups, generating needed income for the Institute. It will also be the location of the organizations’ trivia night, coming up on March 6 at 6:30 p.m.

Fortunately, the recent renovations the International Institute completed in the old St. Elizabeth’s have been largely cosmetic, leaving the old interior easily recognizable to former students. The main floor, accessible up a short staircase inside the front door, has been reconfigured to welcome visitors to the Institute. To the right, there is now a front desk, staffed by Saad Hussein, who, on the Wednesday we visited, was warmly welcoming dozens of clients. Across the hallway, a classroom was removed to create a large, open waiting area. Further down, the classrooms were full of students, studying English. The old worn-out linoleum floors have been replaced with wood. Upstairs, classrooms now hold dozens of employees, working on various tasks such as sourcing housing for new immigrants, or procuring small business loans. In order to accommodate ADA requirements, the Institute installed a chairlift in the front lobby, and constructed a ramp going up the front lawn. The changes are minor, and do not detract from the Modernist architecture of the old high school.

There has been a bit of a minor controversy about the changes the International Institute has made to the former Roman Catholic buildings. In particular, some alumnae have expressed displeasure at the renovation of the Modernist-era chapel into a secular space. Certainly, the old chapel was an interesting space, one graced with six large, stained-glass windows depicting Old Testament matriarchs and female saints, most likely by the famed St. Louis studio of Emil Frei. In the new space, the various elements (such as the altar) have been removed and given to a church, while other items have been returned to the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood. The new space is still beautiful, and perhaps the removal of all of the furnishings makes it more so. The stained-glass windows will remain, protected, but will have a translucent covering, so a sense of their beautiful color will still be enjoyed.

One should also remember that St. Elizabeth’s High School had proposed the demolition of the historic 19th-century convent buildings several years ago. Now, the threat of demolition is gone, as the International Institute has embraced (and almost completely filled) the old convent portions of the complex. Surely that is the best possible outcome for the anchor of one of St. Louis’s smaller, but still elegant historic public spaces, the Crittenden Historic District. And certainly the hum of activity around the International Institute is a welcome addition to the Tower Grove East neighborhood.

Chris Naffziger writes about architecture at St. Louis Patina. Contact him via e-mail at naffziger@gmail.com.