Renaissance II Officially Begins posted 10/6/08
Campaign set to renovate academic buildings on campus

ADRIAN, Mich. – Adrian College President Jeffrey R. Docking announced on Monday, Oct. 6 that the Renaissance II campaign is officially underway. Docking made the public announcement at an all-campus meeting Monday afternoon.

The goal of Renaissance II is to enhance academics at the College to better prepare students for excellence and success, while creating the most exciting, innovative experience of any college or university in the Midwest. The upgrading of academic facilities and classrooms will boost the learning experience of the College’s 1,400 students.

The $12 million campaign is the second phase of Docking’s Renaissance plan which he brought to Adrian College almost four years ago.

“Renaissance II is vastly different from Renaissance I,” said Docking. “It does not take a woeful situation like our enrollment problem and fix it. Instead, Renaissance II wraps its arms around an excellent situation (namely the academic experience on our campus) and develops new ways to add excellence and value.”

The campaign will take three to five years to complete and consists of four facility enhancement projects. The first is a $6.5 million renovation to the campus’ science facility, Peelle Hall. This includes updated science instrumentation, the installation of advanced technologies in all classrooms, an addition of a human anatomy lab, an electrical improvement and upgrades to the water/filtration systems.

“We will launch an aggressive and focused effort to enhance our science facilities,” said Docking. “Outstanding education in the natural sciences should be and will be signature programs at Adrian College.”

Docking also stated that it is imperative for faculty members to have the necessary space and equipment to teach.

“While our science faculty meets these standards of excellence, our facilities do not, and I will not allow this to continue,” said Docking. “Beginning today, I pledge to the science faculty and students an overwhelming administrative effort to improve Peelle Hall.”

The second project is a $3.5 million renovation of Mahan Hall. This facility was recently renamed “The Mahan Center for the Visual Arts”. Mahan will now house all of the visual arts departments on campus. The interior design department has moved from Valade Hall and the dance floor has moved from Rush Hall.

The building will also undergo substantial reconstruction and expansion. Improvements will include updates to all of the existing classrooms and offices as well as adding new classroom space. Construction of a modern digital and video photography studio, installation of a Mac digital imaging lab as well as an art education lab, and the creation of a student art gallery will also be completed.

“Mahan Hall will finally provide our art and interior design departments with the space they need to teach and display their work in large classrooms, exhibit galleries, working studios, and community rooms,” said Docking.

The third is a $500,000 project which focuses on the performing arts. Spencer Hall will receive both renovations and an expansion. The project will add to an existing gift to build ten thousand square feet for practice and classroom space. The entrance foyer will be enhanced and the project will integrate the entire music department into one facility. Downs Hall will also receive upgrades which include structural reinforcement, new electrical and flooring, and seating in the theatre.

The final component of the campaign is a $2 million business department project. Jones Hall will be renovated as well as expanded. An office suite will be created, classrooms will be modernized, and additional space will be constructed for the business, history and political science departments.

“The College will expand its business program by building academic facilities to accommodate

Entrepreneurial Studies, a program designed to give business majors the knowledge they need to compete in a world economy,” said Docking.

Docking also stated that the College is in no way taking on more than they can handle.

“We can and we will accomplish all of this and a whole lot more,” said Docking. “We have proven over the last two-and-a-half years that when a community like ours comes together, works for the common good of our students, is steadfast in our belief that we can achieve great things, we can accomplish the very difficult, and the impossible simply requires a little more time and effort.”