Knights of Columbus Museum

1 State Street, New Haven, CT 06511

The Knights of Columbus Museum, formerly the Community Services Building, is one of New Haven’s most distinctive, modernist buildings. Its brutalist style has resulted in a plethora of clear forms and shapes that cascade up to the corner of George & State Streets. The hard concrete positions the building as a harsh-seeming island in a sea of asphalt parking, a condition that has afflicted the site ever since the New Haven Coliseum was demolished in 2007 [23]. Yet the main entrance offers an elegant staircase, with smooth curves that accent the elevated main floor, where retrofitted exhibitions designed by Kevin Roche make for an uneasy, yet ultimately satisfying relationship with the building’s original interior.

The building is monumental, but its site should be considered second in importance only to the Green. The connection of the nine squares to the harbor, the funneling of railways, the power of industry, and a few forgotten secrets make this site one you shouldn’t overlook.

Researcher

Andrew Sandweiss

Date Researched

Entry Created

February 24, 2018 at 10:51 AM EST

Last Updated

March 5, 2018 at 4:05 PM EST by null

Historic Name

Style

Brutalist

Current Use

Cultural CenterInstitutionalOffices / Business Activities

Era

1950-1980

Neighborhood

Ninth SquareOther

Tours

State Street Stroll

Year Built

1965

Architect

Orr, DeCossy, Winder and Associates

Current Tenant

Knights of Columbus

Roof Types

Flat

Structural Conditions

Very Good

Street Visibilities

Yes

Threats

None known

External Conditions

Very Good

Dimensions

118’ X 734’

Street Visibilities

Yes

Owner

Knights of Columbus

Ownernishp Type

Client

City of New Haven

Historic Uses

Institutional

gallery
View from the corner of State & George. Source: Andrew Sandweiss, 2018
gallery
The original first floor plan of the Community Services Building. Note the grouping of offices, as well as the clear outsourcing of utilities to extrusions. Source: Metz, Don. New Architecture in New Haven. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 1973.
gallery
The current first floor plan of the museum. Source: Knights of Columbus Museum Guide & Brochure

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