Bethel University broke ground on its $30 million University Commons facility during a festive celebration on Saturday, May 19. Bethel President George Brushaber, Student Body President Tim Hammer, and other representatives broke ground with gold shovels. Students, who will benefit most from the facility, had the opportunity to use a backhoe to break larger amounts of ground. The building is scheduled to be completed in spring 2009.

"As we are ever becoming whole and holy people, the University Commons will provide places for personal and corporate devotion and reflection, places for relationships to thrive, and places for bodies and minds to relax as well," said Vice President for Student Life Judy Moseman. "The commons will, we believe, become the hub and the pulse of community life at Bethel and will offer a continuing invitation to each of us to tend to our relationships, tend to our minds, and tend to our souls."

Bethel’s college buildings, originally holding 1,000 students, have had numerous additions and been remodeled again and again to serve 2,900 residential students and more than 1,600 adult students. Renovations have compromised gathering places for life-shaping relationships, as well as space for essential student services.

The University Commons will solve these needs. As Bethel University’s first student center, this beautiful and functional 110,000-square-foot facility will create a “family room” for the Bethel community. It will include expanded Dining Center and a retail dining establishment; a larger Campus Store; a multipurpose social event venue; several large lounge areas; headquarters for student organizations; a centralized student life office; and meeting rooms and conversation spaces.

The facility will be built by M.A. Mortenson Company and is designed by KKE Architects.

Architectural renderings of the building are available at http://www.bethel.edu/development/campaign/news/univ-commons.html.