The buildings boast a rare architectural continuity, and a tie to the origins of Franciscanism in medieval Italy...
When St Francis lived in central Italy around 1200, he would have been familiar with an architectural style for church and public buildings, which lives on today in western New York. St Bonaventure University is blessed with an architectural continuity which was created by two primary architects: in the 1930s, Chester Oakley of Buffalo, and in the 1950s Brother Cajetan Baumann, OSF, a friar who practiced architecture in New York City. In recent years the University has consciously followed their lead with the architectural elements of our many newer facilities, maintained by the stewardship of our staff.
Learn more about The Buildings of St. Bonaventure, courtesy of SBU Archives, for more on our historic buildings and even more historic architectural style.