Innovation and Design

Being innovative is one of a college’s most intriguing aspects.  It is something that sets it apart from other colleges and creates an aura and character for the campus in general, as well as the students, faculty, and administration that live, attend, and work there.  A campus’s buildings are something that set it apart from other locations and illustrate a very important key to the college’s message and personality. 

One of the joint aspirations of CSB and SJU is to foster an appreciation of nature that is taught through the value of stewardship .  At the time when these buildings were constructed, innovation was displayed in the old red brick.  This material generated a warm feeling of comfort and familiarity, a means of embracing nature and history of how the school came about in the first place.  The surrounding lakes and woods generate a feeling of being close to nature and promoting a better understanding of the life therein. 

            We want to uphold the tradition of the CSB and SJU and continue to bring about that connection to nature and exemplify innovation in architecture.  By designing a green building  for either campus, we will continue to take steps in the direction of low impact on the environment , while also bringing the community more in touch with the surroundings embraced by both CSB and SJU.

            The design of the buildings on the two campuses is of concern, because so many aspects currently being considered and promoted are not environmentally friendly.  They also do not foster the level of simplicity and modesty inherent in architectural goals of CSB and SJU.  In order to foster a more environmentally friendly atmosphere, the design of the building should be such that fosters alternative energy sources, enables users to feel connected to the building’s surroundings, and blends into the natural elements as much as possible. 

The first step in this process is to keep in mind the teachings of St. Benedict:  sustainability , frugality, humility, and simplicity.  By involving the community  in the construction  of the building, the Benedictine value of sustainability will be fulfilled.  This fosters a person’s ability to establish a special connection to a place and become involved in caring for that place, paying special attention to not harm the Earth.  Through sharing in this process of stability, the people who will actually make use of the building will establish their role of “place” and care for the area where it is built.  It will establish a connection to the immediate area of construction and gain a sense of commitment from the people in the area.

Through Benedictine frugality is taught the value of using as little as necessary, embracing sparseness, and following the practice of thinking twice before using something that could be a potential nonrenewable  resource.  Green building  practices will limit the amount of consumption generated on the two campuses.   

The constructed building will be less conspicuous in its setting, and thus will foster a healthier relationship with its surroundings and modesty in contrast to many other aspects of CSB and SJU other architecture, such as the concrete buildings.  The Marcel Breuer  buildings were designed with the goal of standing out and generating more interest on a diverse and futuristic campus.  With this new green building , we hope to step away from these goals and develop a more conducive Benedictine value of humility in recognizing our part within creation and not taking for granted the resources we have been given.

It is also necessary that we design a building that is adaptable for future renovations or up-cycling  for different uses.  It should be aesthetically pleasing for future generations and adopt the innovative practices that were put to use in the construction  of other campus buildings.  It should be designed so that the interior space may be readily modified for multiple uses, it should not restrict the type of activity that it will be used for, and the walls should be built in a fashion that will allow them to be torn down and rebuilt if necessary. 

The building’s design should also be an educational example of the green building process.  We want to educate the CSB and SJU communities about the benefits and feasibility of green building , as well as set a living example for the college and university communities to facilitate ongoing dialogue about environmentalism.  Many community members should be involved in all phases of the project. 

We also want this building to achieve certain environmental standards that will make it a well-known example of sustainable  building in the area.  It is a goal to use new and innovative building materials and techniques that further strengthen the cumulative knowledge and credibility of these technologies.  The building also has the capability of being used as a tool to teach occupants and visitors about how they can and do contribute to the building’s sustainability.

Another goal to designing this building is to keep it aesthetically pleasing, while also reflecting the historical style of CSB and SJU and creating a low visual impact.  Thus, it is necessary to mimic the innovative design  goals evident in the architecture of CSB and SJU.  Most of these buildings were designed with the intent of putting them to use for many future generations.  Each structure’s purpose is to serve the communities and become an identity for the campuses, being built to sustain and endure the evolving architectural histories of CSB and SJU.   

We also wish to educate everyone who is in any way connected to the campus.  They will be instructed in the building process about the importance of green building  techniques, standards, and strategies and incorporate them in the entire project.  It is essential that the community be knowledgeable of this endeavor and gain an appreciation and understanding of the ideals behind the construction  of green building and the specific construction taking place on the CSB and SJU campuses.

The primary obstacle to implementing the solutions illustrated above is mainly the costs involved in the overall beginnings of the project.  Budgets are a crucial issue in the successful futures of both CSB and SJU.  Although the initial funding of this project may at first appear quite daunting, the benefits derived from the construction  and use of this innovative structure will prove themselves in time.  It should be kept in mind that the environmental benefits generated by this building will be healthy for not only members of the community who make use of the building, but also the natural surroundings of the building itself.

  By educating the community of the enormous benefits behind this project, a sense of security and familiarity will slowly be adopted and fostered throughout the first steps of the project itself.  To learn more about this project and the value it would give to our colleges, one should consult various figures in the community, such as Professor of Theology Bernard Evans; these figures foster environmental values and are knowledgeable of the positive effects a green building  will have in the region.  There are also newly published materials available in the SJU Alcuin Library; these publications will educate those individuals who are interested in the history and statistics involved in green building.  Many Internet sources are available as suitable research devices which offer a variety of information on the subjects of green building and the environmental effects involved in construction  of all sorts.  There will be seminars and conferences held on campus to promote this project and share with the community the benefits derived from embracing the environment  and upholding St. Benedict’s values.  It is best to remember that a wealth of information is at hand for those who are willing to seek it.