UCC - New $30 million CTS building on course for October dedication

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

New $30 million CTS building on course for October dedication

> Written by Jeff Woodard
> May 2, 2011

All systems are "go" for the opening of

UCC-related Chicago Theological Seminary's new
80,000-square-foot building, a LEED-certified
facility to be ushered in with a Dedication
Weekend and Scholarship Concert celebration Oct. 20-23, 2011.

"The move to the new seminary building will be
made the first week in January, with classes
beginning later that month," said the Rev. Alice Hunt, CTS president.

Meeting high "green" standards, the $30 million
building will feature four floors with a
footprint of approximately 17,400 square feet and
house academic and administrative offices,
classrooms, a food-service area and two chapels.
The facility is designed to achieve LEED Silver Certification.

The first two floors comprise faculty and staff
offices and classrooms. The first floor houses a
small chapel seating 30, and the second floor
includes a meditation space. The Learning Commons
and Student Commons is on the third floor.

Spaces for large, public assemblies are available
on the fourth floor and include a main worship space, dining room and kitch en.

The guiding principles of the building's design are to:

Express CTS as a religious institution

rooted in its past and forward-thinking in mission

Assimilate iconic elements of CTS' past within the framework of the new

Claim an independent presence while being a good neighbor on the Midway

Express a sense of rootedness, yet also a

light and transparent character that is welcoming
and engaging with its community

The new structure sports a concrete core with
brick and metal siding facings. Generally
rectangular in shape, the building features a
series of circles that cut across each floor.

Five thousand square feet of green roof space
provides visual interest; reduces the building's
heat island effect and storm water runoff; and
provides a vegetated outdoor landscape for occupants.

Donald Clark, chairperson of the CTS Board of
Trustees and UCC nationwide special counsel,
recently made a gift of $1 million for the project.

"This difficult and important decision benefited
from a process of community-wide education,
deliberation and collaboration that reflected CTS
at its best," said Clark. "We not only made an
important decision for the institution, we also
learned how best to process future challenges facing the community."

Construction is a partnership between the

University of Chicago and Chicago Theological
Seminary. In May 2008, University of Chicago
Board of Trustees Executive Committee authorized
the purchase of the main CTS building and a
dormitory, as well as an adjacent parking lot.
The university also agreed to construct the seminary building.

The current main building originally was designed
for housing and office space, and was not
intended to hold classrooms. Renovation estimates
for the current main building exceeded $25 million.

The university paid CTS $11 million for the main
CTS building and the dormitory at the close of
the deal June 30. The transaction gives CTS
students access to the university student housing
? up to 30 units in a combination of single and
family units near the location of the new building.

Hunt said she sees the move as indicative of the bright future of the semin ary.

"This move continues CTS' long legacy of

providing courageous and cutting-edge religious
leadership," she said. "As we honor our
traditions, we grieve in the leaving of this
beautiful and spirit-filled building, and we
celebrate in the continual creation of new life."

Please visit <ctschicago.edu/newbuilding> for
more information about the new building and to
register for the Dedication Weekend and Scholarship Concert.