Newman plans take shape

After months of homelessness and hardships, members of Truman's Catholic Newman Center have two things to smile about.

Last weekend the Newman Center received a promise of more than $14,000 in donations and also laid architectural plans for the re-building of a new center after the original building was destroyed by a fire in May.

The Newman Center had a Mass last Saturday during Family Day at the site of the previous building. Five hundred people attended the "Mass on the Slab" conducted by Newman Center's Father Bill Kottenstette, said Bettie Lesczynski, Newman Center director.

Prior to the Mass, two families from Mary Immaculate Catholic Parish pledged that if Truman parents donated $4,000, they would each match that donation. After Mass ended, the donations were totaled in the Cornerstone house. Mass participants cheered, and Lesczynski jumped up and down as she announced the $5,305 total. After the announcement, another Truman family wrote a $1,000 check, bringing the total mass donation to $6,305, said Deana Judah, senior and Newman Center executive officer.

"The first thought to come to my mind [about the donations] is extreme gratefulness because we had this rainstorm looming over our head the entire time," Judah said. "We were wondering if we were going to have to cancel the Mass, and because we had had the two Mary Immaculate Parishioners pledge to match a $4,000 offertory, that was sort of a pressure for us. However, I feel that once all the parents came together, there was quite a wonderful turnout for the Mass, and you just feel this very overwhelming sense of support out there during the service."

Before Saturday, the architecture plans for the building quickly were drawn to show to parents during Family Day weekend.

A St. Louis-based architectural firm, Killeen Studio Architects, found out about the Newman Center project from a Truman student months ago, architect Michael Killeen said.

Kottenstette and Lesczynski chose the firm after a lengthy interviewing process. Killeen said they scrutinized his credentials and eventually chose his company instead of other potential architects who applied for the job.

On Oct. 10, Killeen and two architectural interns from the office traveled to Kirksville to start plans for the building. After meeting with Lesczynski and Kottenstette, Killeen met with almost 50 students to gather input on the project. Killeen said he thinks it is important to get students' input into the project because they are the people who will be using the building the most.

"I'm really enjoying [working on this project]," Killeen said. "... We get to meet with the students, which is what I really enjoy. It's an exciting site, and it's just fun to think about what is going to be happening with that building. It's going to be a center for spiritual life."

On Oct. 11, Killeen and his interns worked on the plans until 2:30 a.m. Newman Center students provided Killeen and his interns with snacks, drinks and company, Killeen said. The following morning the plans were presented to Lesczynski and students.

Not only were Newman Center members pleased with the plans, Killeen and his interns were pleased as well, he said.

"I think the building is going to be dynamite," Killeen said. "It's going to be a really neat building. We had five options on [Friday] so people could pick and choose. Everybody gravitated toward option five, which was an option that spread the building out a bit [and] took advantage of the site."

The building plans consist of 12,000 square feet of space, including a chapel with seating for 100 people and a 5,500-square-foot multipurpose room with a raised ceiling, Killeen said. Lesczynski said other assets will include more storage, a larger kitchen, a fire pit, a sculpture and a craft room.

The sculpture will be located on the western end of the building and will signify the Newman Center students raising up the cross together.

"The sculpture really represents not just those who went through the fire but those that are coming afterwards - the idea of the cross holding up the church," Judah said. "We've all been joking all year about having this slab of cement. Really, it's our foundation, but we're the foundation, too."

Local company Sparks Constructors will construct the building. The company built the original Newman Center, as well as the building's addition. Lesczynski said the Newman Center has been pleased with the company in the past and that she is excited to use its services again.

Before construction, a company from Hannibal, Mo., will test concrete and soil at the site. If the existing site does not meet standards, it will cost an extra $100,000 to rip out and replace. City requirements must be taken into account. The city has to approve all the plans, including the foundation, electrical and the sewer, Lesczynski said.

"We're pretty sure the city will also require a sprinkler system, and we want a lightening rod on there," Lesczynski said with a laugh.

The Newman Center will receive money from insurance, including $800,000 to rebuild and $45,000 to buy contents for the building like furniture, computers and kitchen appliances, Lesczynski said.

Currently, Sunday Mass takes place in Baldwin Auditorium, and Wednesday Mass is held in Baldwin Hall Little Theatre. Temporary housing for the Newman Center is in a blue residential house on Davis Street behind Missouri Hall.