Health & Wellness Center

On Monday, March 5, Andrews University broke ground for an approximately $17.5 million, 76,000 square foot Health & Wellness Center scheduled to open in the fall of 2019. Twenty individuals, leaders from on- and off-campus, participated in the shovel brigade, using gold-colored shovels to turn ground at the building site.

The groundbreaking celebration started in the Howard Performing Arts Center Lobby. David Faehner, vice president for University Advancement, and Andrea Luxton, president, shared opening remarks.

Faehner noted the location of the Wellness Center—close to students as well as to the community. “Inadvertently, or maybe on purpose, it [the Wellness Center] will complete the final corner of a square between the Howard Center, Seminary and Pioneer Memorial Church,” he said, “and, in the process, will incorporate the meaning of the concepts that are permanently engraved on the Andrews University seal of Corpus, Mens, Spiritus or body, mind and spirit.”

Andrew von Maur, professor of architecture in the School of Architecture & Interior Design, has served as one of the architects for the project. Addressing attendees, he said, “Former president Dr. Andreasen once told me that the reason we have a school of architecture on our campus is because architecture is about stewardship. Stewardship of God’s blessings: financial resources, land, our natural environment, our built heritage and the time that each student and visitor spend on our campus. So it was very humbling and a real privilege to work on the design of the Health & Wellness Center.”

Dominique Gummelt, director for University Health & Wellness, summarized work already taking place related to the University’s health and wellness initiative. Highlights included the Health & Wellness Council, the approximately 40 campus Wellness Ambassadors, an e-wellness platform for employees, daily wellness themes and the recognition of being selected as a gold level campus by the American College of Sports Medicine for the third year in a row. Gummelt said, “God has created us with phenomenal potential to live our lives to the fullest in every possible way. He has created us extraordinarily, and He wants us to live healthy and happy lives so He can use us best for His sake.”

Artur Stele, chair of the Andrews University Board of Trustees, invited Ted Wilson, president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, to close the program with a prayer of dedication. Attendees then walked to the construction site where the official, ceremonial groundbreaking took place, followed by a reception back in the Howard Center lobby.

“We have been awaiting this moment for several years,” says Luxton, reflecting on the event. “This is not just a new building for the campus; it is one that will be central to our life and our mission. It will show every day how vital we consider health and wellness to be for our campus and our community. This build is now happening only due to the vision of President Emeritus Niels-Erik Andreasen and the generosity of all those who have supported this project with their very significant gifts. Thank you all very much.”

The Health & Wellness Center will have a swimming pool, a recreation and event center with basketball courts, fitness and exercise areas and space for educational programs. The building site is currently under construction, and a web camera will be installed to provide a live view as the center takes shape.

For additional updates on the Health & Wellness Center, visit andrews.edu/wellnesscenter.

The official groundbreaking for the new Health & Wellness Center will take place on Monday, March 5, 2018, at 5 p.m. in the Howard Performing Arts Center on the campus of Andrews University. The program and shovel brigade will be followed by a short reception. All are welcome to attend.

The $17.5 million, 76,000 square foot facility is scheduled to open in the fall of 2019. It will have a swimming pool, recreation and event center with basketball courts, fitness and exercise areas and space for educational programs. The Oronoko Township Planning Commission approved the site plan and a special use permit for Indiana Michigan Power Company at a meeting on Feb. 6, 2018.

David Faehner, vice president for University Advancement, and President Andrea Luxton will open the groundbreaking program. Andrew von Maur, professor of architecture, will provide an architectural perspective, and Dominique Gummelt, director for University Health & Wellness, will present an overview of Andrews University's ongoing health and wellness initiative. Artur Stele, chair of the Andrews University Board of Trustees, will offer a prayer of dedication.

Additional members of the Board of Trustees and President's Council, President Emeritus Niels-Erik Andreasen and individuals from University administration and the student body will participate in the shovel brigade.

Construction began in September 2017 with the demolition of Hazen's Concrete Wall sculpture, which was located in the PMC traffic circle (formerly referred to as Hammill's Halo). At the same time, trees that were to be removed were marked. Most of the logs from the trees are being used as timber for an addition to the architecture building. The remaining trees will be ground into woodchips to be used on the nature trails behind the new Wellness Center location. Some large trees were saved as a buffer between Pioneer Memorial Church and the Wellness Center.

A new parking lot is almost complete and is already being used as overflow for services at Pioneer Memorial Church. Currently, lighting is waiting for approval, 75 percent of the storm sewer has been installed and rerouting of the water lines has been done. Construction is expected to resume in March, and a web camera will be installed to provide a live view as the center takes shape.

For additional updates on the Health & Wellness Center, visit andrews.edu/wellnesscenter.

SHOVEL CEREMONY

A date for the official shovel ceremony for the Health & Wellness Center has been set for Monday, March 5, 2018. The schedule for this long-awaited event is as follows:

5 p.m.        Program, Howard Performing Arts Center
5:30 p.m.   Shovel Brigade, Building Site
5:45 p.m.   Reception, Howard Performing Arts Center

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

The parking lot is almost completed and is already being used as overflow for services at Pioneer Memorial Church. Currently, lighting is waiting for approval, 75 percent of the storm sewer has been installed, and rerouting of the water lines has been done.

Construction will resume in March unless there is an earlier thaw.

When construction of the center begins a web camera will be installed to provide everyone with a live look as the center takes shape.

Follow news and events about the Health & Wellness Center at andrews.edu/wellnesscenter.