Hamline has always been considered groundbreaking. As
Minnesota’s first university, founded in 1854, it has been coeducational and
open to all faiths from the start, granting the state’s first bachelor’s and
master’s degrees to Elizabeth and Emily Sorin. The university strives to continue
this tradition of forward thinking and inclusive leadership with a plan to
break ground on the corner of Snelling and Englewood Avenues—the site of a new University
Center.
A $36 million facility, the University Center will serve as
a prominent symbol of Hamline and will dramatically expand its capacity to
accommodate and serve its community. A natural gathering place, it will bring a
new dimension to university life and to the perspective of everyone who visits
Hamline. “This will truly be the heart of Hamline,” says Richard Hoel ’69,
chair of the campaign steering committee. “It’s where students, faculty and
staff members, and alumni will gather, foster friendships, spark debate, and
feel a real sense of belonging.”
The goal is to have sufficient gifts and pledges in place by
the end of 2010 to break ground in spring 2011. The firm Shepley Bulfinch
(which has designed student centers and dining halls for Georgetown and George
Mason universities) was chosen out of 40 firms to design the building, which
will have three floors—all made flexible with retractable walls and multi-use
spaces to serve a variety of needs. The first floor’s large fireplace, sunlit
gathering spaces, and coffee shop will invite interaction, while the second
floor will replace Sorin as the new dining hall. Student organizations and
campus offices will be housed on the third floor, which will also feature a
meditation room and an outdoor terrace. Floor-to-ceiling windows facing campus
will help bring the outside in, and the building will have two floors of
underground parking— a welcome addition to campus. “The space will be at once
visually stunning and fully functional. Every corner is designed to serve and
inspire,” says architect Angela Watson.
In keeping with Hamline’s commitment to environmental responsibility,
the University Center will be constructed with sustainable building materials
and energy-efficient design. Solar panels will be implemented, and the
university is working with Xcel Energy to incorporate other energy-efficient
products and techniques.
Contemporary, functional, and environmentally conscious, the
University Center will reflect Hamline’s ongoing commitment to serving its
community. Says President Linda Hanson: “At the heart of today’s campus, the
University Center is an exciting part of Hamline’s vision to create pathways
for current and future generations of students. When future alumni reflect on
their time at Hamline, their memories will be framed in part by this gathering
place.”