The Andreasen Center for Wellness

Andrews University is pleased to announce that their new wellness center is being named the Andreasen Center for Wellness in recognition of Niels-Erik Andreasen, president emeritus of Andrews.

“When the fundraising campaign for the wellness center began, a donor stepped forward with a gift in the millions,” says President Andrea Luxton. “This donor said the gift was not for personal recognition but was intended to honor Niels-Erik Andreasen, someone whose work at Andrews made an outstanding contribution to the University. Because of the initial donation, others were motivated. Five large gifts, all connected with the first overwhelming gift and in addition to a number of smaller gifts, made the eventual groundbreaking of the Center for Wellness possible.”

Andreasen served 22 years, from 1994–2016, as the fifth president of Andrews University. His vision for Andrews inspired the necessary financial support for multiple capital improvements on the campus, including the Seminary Hall addition, the Howard Performing Arts Center, the J.N. Andrews Boulevard and Welcome Globe, a new milking parlor at the Dairy, renovations to Dining Services, the Undergraduate Learning Center (Buller Hall and renovations to Nethery Hall) and Damazo Hall. These improvements enhanced the physical footprint of campus, improved the academic experience for students and faculty, and provided significant ways to welcome the surrounding community to campus.

Andreasen’s ability to relate to others on an individual level has had lasting results, as well. “I have closely observed Andreasen in conversation with musicians, scientists and biblical scholars. One can tell that he has a depth of interest and understanding in many disciplines,” says Charles Randall, co-chair of the President’s Council. “He shows interest in and is gracious to those he meets. His stature in Adventist leadership around the world helped make Andrews University a diverse and premier academic magnet school.”

“The Center for Wellness is the culmination of the many contributions Andreasen has made to Andrews,” says Paul Stokstad, co-chair of the President’s Council. “Through the enlargement of the Seminary, Andrews has had a great impact on providing leadership to our fellow churches around the world, while Buller Hall sends a strong message that Andrews is a liberal arts institution of the first order. The Center for Wellness has been a dream of Dr. Andreasen’s for many years, and now it becomes reality. “‘Corpus’ takes its rightful place next to ‘mens’ and ‘spiritus’ as a goal for all of Andrews.”

The $17.5 million, 70,000-square-foot Andreasen Center for Wellness is scheduled to open in the fall of 2019. It will have an indoor salt-water pool, a hot whirlpool with special features, saunas, a steam bath, an outdoor wellness courtyard, a recreation center with basketball and multipurpose courts, a state-of-the-art fitness center, assessment and coaching elements, as well as space for educational wellness programs.

For more information, visit andrews.edu/wellnesscenter. You can also connect with University Wellness on Facebook (facebook.com/aulivewholly), Instagram (instagram.com/aulivewholly) and Twitter (twitter.com/AUlivewholly).

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.