As we think about our progress at Gustavus over the last decade, some of the most visible and significant changes have been to our physical spaces. We can all be proud of the major investments that have upgraded our campus buildings and provided expanded opportunities for student learning and engagement. The majority of these investments were funded by generous donors. The list is impressive:
- Beck Hall opened in Fall 2011. This 125,000 square feet, $30 million academic building houses the Departments of Communication Studies, Economics and Management, History, Psychological Science, and Sociology and Anthropology and was certified as LEED Platinum for energy efficiency and sustainability.
- The West Mall, officially named the Annexstad Family Mall, extends west from Christ Chapel to the Linnaeus Arboretum, and includes the Sesquicentennial Plaza. Conceptualized in 2012 after completion of Beck Hall and dedicated in 2014, the mall includes an outdoor classroom, opened a new east-west corridor on campus, and provides increased access to the Arboretum along with recreation/relaxation space for students.
- The Chapel View Townhomes, across the street from the Big Hill Farm and Drenttel Golf Facility, were acquired by the College in 2012 and now house 56 returning students in townhouse-style living. One of the most coveted on-campus living spaces for students, the townhomes provide four individual bedrooms, a kitchen, living room, two bathrooms, and laundry facilities in each unit.
- Anderson Hall, originally built in 1948, was completely renovated and reopened in 2017. The $8 million project attained LEED Gold certification, provided new student collaboration spaces, and houses the education department, Bonnier Multifaith Center, the Academic Support Center, Writing Center, and Kendall Center for Engaged Learning.
- Our Nobel Hall south expansion links science to arts, added a new experimental theatre, and created The STEAMery cafe. The original Nobel Hall is currently undergoing a complete renovation, including the addition of a North Lobby. The total cost of this two-year expansion and renovation project is $70 Million. When completed, we will add 86,400 square feet of space to our science and fine arts facilities.
- We have also upgraded several of our athletic facilities in recent years. The Drenttel Golf Facility, which opened in 2015, provides a state-of-the-art, year-round practice facility for our golf teams. The renovated baseball field, complete with synthetic field turf, was ready for use in late 2017. Most recently, we replaced the bubble and the mechanical systems in the Swanson Tennis Center.
That’s over $108 million in updates that will provide a total of nearly 400,000 square feet in additional or updated learning spaces once the Nobel project is complete. Wow! Wherever you work on campus, you can be proud of the investments we have made in our facilities over the last decade. Many thanks to the many people who were involved in making each of these major projects a reality, and ongoing thanks to our capable staff who maintain these and all our facilities every day.
As our buildings age and our needs change, it will be important for us to continue to invest in upgrading and maintaining our buildings and grounds. We are now actively fundraising for a significant expansion and renovation of Lund Center, and this is slated to be our next big project on campus. How will the next 10 years continue to transform our campus? Time will tell!
Until next week, keep up the good work, Gusties!
With respect,
President Bergman