What Happened While You Were Away? Changes on Campus Over the Summer

The large tree in front of Weller Hall was taken down over the summer due it contracting Dutch Elm disease.

Photo by Ellen Beck

By Morgan Consier

Campus was busy over the summer as Buildings and Grounds and other crews worked on projects to improve campus. These ranged from new furniture and paint to adding walls or even, in the case of the Dunklau Center for Science, Math and Business, a whole new building.

Thom Classrooms

Thom 101 was renovated over the summer to make it a more innovative classroom space. Continuing last year’s renovations, Thom 104 also received updated technology that will help students in their classes. Read the Sower’s article here for more information about the updates.

Dunklau Center

Concrete for the base of the new Dunklau Center was poured over the summer. Crews are planning on starting putting up the structural steel for the building toward the end of August. See the Sower’s articles here here and here for more information on the goals and progress of the building.

Janzow Cafeteria

While not serving food to students, the cafeteria saw plenty of activity over the summer and received new paint, including some accent walls, new carpet, and new chairs.

“These improvements needed to be made since the chairs did not match, and the carpet was over 10 years old,” Director of Dining Services Nicholas Tyrance said.

The goal of these renovations was to improve the appearance of the much-used campus space.

“We at Chartwells feel that a dining hall should be the focal point of a dining facility,” Tyrance said.

Photo by Ellen Beck

Photo by Ellen Beck

Elm Tree

This big American Elm tree in front of Weller was taken down over the summer because it was infected with Dutch Elm disease. Planted in the late 1920s or 1930s, this tree was one of the oldest trees on campus.

While other trees fell to Dutch Elm disease when it hit campus back in the 1970s, this tree survived that attack.

Photo by Ellen Beck

Anniversary Banners

Banners were installed around campus in celebration of Concordia’s 125th academic year. The banners were fully funded by a donor. The words on the banners are: Community, Inquiry, Purpose and Wisdom. Each of these words is tied to Concordia’s promises of a Lutheran, Christian education.

Photos by Morgan Consier

Art Department Renovations

The north second floor of Brommer Hall was renovated to allow for more classroom space and the addition of a specialized illustration studio.

The furnishings in the Center for Liturgical Arts (CLA) have been updated with repurposed pieces from Brommer and Concordia’s Fallbrook campus for the College of Graduate Studies.

According to Dave Kumm, executive vice president and chief financial officer/chief operating officer, restoration of the Marxhausen Studio behind the CLA will soon begin.

“This restoration will be funded by sales of various art pieces donated by (Professor Reinhold) Marxhausen for this purpose,” Kumm said.

Counseling Services/Health Center

A new wall has been installed by the Cattle Conference Room. On the other side of the wall is the new Student Health Center, where both medical and counseling services can be offered privately.

“The new space will allow counseling to provide group sessions and created an excellent environment for students. Check it out sometime,” Kumm said.

Career Services

Career Services in Janzow has been updated with repurposed furniture.

Janzow and Link Library

Over the summer, both the Janzow Campus Center and Link Library received the final sections of their new roofs.