Parents
A newsletter for parents of Bethel University students
University Commons to Open Spring 2009
By Monique Champeau ’08
A pit of concrete and steel, construction trucks, and hard hats
have become part of Bethel’s scenery in past months. And
as students walk to class this spring, they’ll look up to
a giant yellow crane, reminding them that a lot more elbow room
is on the way.
The first stage of construction for the new University Commons building is turning years of fundraising and prayer into an additional 110,000 square feet of space for a growing student population. If things go as planned, students will start moving into the new building overlooking Lake Valentine by spring break of 2009.
Designed to benefit former, current and future students alike, the building has been called “Bethel’s family room.” It will feature added expanded dining facilities, space for student activities, meeting rooms, and campus government offices, among other amenities.
The building reflects Bethel’s desire to impact the surrounding environment as little as possible. With a partial green roof, an energy-efficient boiler system, fly ash concrete, and a minimized footprint on the land, it’s an annex that is good for the environment as well as education.
“University Commons will be a great addition to Bethel University. It will be a place to bring more and more students together and also a great place for our community to grow,” says freshman Kelsi Steckler.
But, perhaps the most positive result of the new Commons is that not a penny is coming from tuition—all capital costs at Bethel are financed by generous donors. The building is one part of the “Taking the Next Step” $105 million capital campaign, which concludes May 31, 2008. Information on the University Commons and the comprehensive resource campaign is available at www.bethel.edu/development/campaign/.