2008 Woodie Awards
Bishop alters Newman plans
Kaul, Jean
Issue date: 3/6/08 Section: News
The Newman Center is facing new obstacles as students and staff push for a useable building by next fall.
The Newman rebuilding committee received a letter from Archbishop John Gaydos' office in mid-February that detailed a new plan of action for the Newman community. Amid concerns that Newman will not be able to raise sufficient funds to finish the project, the archdiocese has laid down new time and money stipulations for the Newman Center.
Bettie Lesczynski, director of the Newman Center, said the building is to be completed in two phases. The first phase, a multi-purpose room, a kitchen and a small room that can be used as a temporary chapel, will be built on the previous schedule, with construction ending before Truman Week. Phase 2 of the building will continue as fundraising permits. Phase 2 construction will include a spacious new chapel that will be significantly larger than the chapel used at the prior center.
"The building will still be 20 percent bigger after Phase 1," Lesczynski said. "All of the inside will stay the same as far as the original plans, ... but the purpose of the rooms might be different."
Michelle Raymond, president of the Newman Council, said the temporary chapel will be about the same size as the old Newman chapel with a capacity of 15. The chapel constructed in Phase 2 of building will have the capacity to seat 100. She said the disappointment the community is feeling about the pause in plans is tempered by optimism.
"By waiting [on construction], we can get the building how we wanted," Raymond said.
As of right now, Lesczynski said Archbishop Gaydos has signed the contract for the foundation to be poured for the entire building, but the cold weather has checked the concrete pouring plans. She said that for now, Newman will use the exposed slab of the Phase 2 foundation as a patio gathering place until sufficient funds are raised to continue construction of Phase 2. The Newman community is awaiting news from Archbishop Gaydos to continue the construction of Phase 1.
The Newman rebuilding committee received a letter from Archbishop John Gaydos' office in mid-February that detailed a new plan of action for the Newman community. Amid concerns that Newman will not be able to raise sufficient funds to finish the project, the archdiocese has laid down new time and money stipulations for the Newman Center.
Bettie Lesczynski, director of the Newman Center, said the building is to be completed in two phases. The first phase, a multi-purpose room, a kitchen and a small room that can be used as a temporary chapel, will be built on the previous schedule, with construction ending before Truman Week. Phase 2 of the building will continue as fundraising permits. Phase 2 construction will include a spacious new chapel that will be significantly larger than the chapel used at the prior center.
"The building will still be 20 percent bigger after Phase 1," Lesczynski said. "All of the inside will stay the same as far as the original plans, ... but the purpose of the rooms might be different."
Michelle Raymond, president of the Newman Council, said the temporary chapel will be about the same size as the old Newman chapel with a capacity of 15. The chapel constructed in Phase 2 of building will have the capacity to seat 100. She said the disappointment the community is feeling about the pause in plans is tempered by optimism.
"By waiting [on construction], we can get the building how we wanted," Raymond said.
As of right now, Lesczynski said Archbishop Gaydos has signed the contract for the foundation to be poured for the entire building, but the cold weather has checked the concrete pouring plans. She said that for now, Newman will use the exposed slab of the Phase 2 foundation as a patio gathering place until sufficient funds are raised to continue construction of Phase 2. The Newman community is awaiting news from Archbishop Gaydos to continue the construction of Phase 1.
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