 Lutheran
Campus Center @ WVU
Our Neighborhood |
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Click image for full map
of Downtown Campus |
Our street address is 1497 University Avenue, but numbers and a street
name hardly convey the benefits of our location.
All roads lead to Rome Wittenberg.
1497 University Avenue is the corner lot at a key intersection in the downtown
campus. University Avenue, Willey Street, and Hough Street all meet
at 1497. These are important arteries for both vehicular and pedestrian
traffic; according to one source, the most heavily pedestrian trafficked
intersection in the state of West Virginia is only two blocks away, and
most of that traffic comes by our door. With the down town commercial
district only one block away, lunch hour pedestrian traffic is particularly
heavy.
And gave their land for an inheritance...
St. Paul Lutheran Church originally occupied our lot. Three post-war
phenomena forced the congregation's leadership to question the wisdom of
remaining on the lot it had occupied since 1900: 1) the G.I.Bill influx
of students had resulted in rapid expansion of the WVU's physical plant
which in turn threatened to encroach upon the congregation's land; 2) the
baby boom swelled the congregation's ranks, necessitating a larger building;
and 3) the rise of automobile culture which necessitated parking--a rare
commodity in Morgantown. The congregation decided to remove itself
to the country, purchasing land in then rural Evansdale.
Still committed to campus ministry, St. Paul deeded its original lot to
the newly formed Lutheran Campus Foundation at WVU.
What may have been bane for a growing congregation 50 years ago is blessing
for a campus ministry today. The Lutheran Campus Center is bordered
on three sides by academic buildings and on the fourth side by a sorority
house. Many mistakenly assume that we are actually "on campus," but,
in reality, we represent the furthest penetration of private property into
the heart of WVU's down town campus--or, from a more historical perspective,
we represent the last bastion of private property as WVU continues to expand.
We love being in the thick of things. Below is a guide to our
neighborhood. Picture yourself standing on our front porch watching
the daily drama of campus life unfolding. Then imagine that you are
not a mere spectator; you are an actor in that drama.
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...
North
Colson Hall is just across Hough Street from the Lutheran Campus Center.
At one time the Law School, Colson Hall now houses the West Virginia Collection
and serves as the temporary home of the Library's administrative arm.
The Registrar, Admissions, and Office of Records are also housed here.
Further north, one finds the Mountain Lair (the student union) and the
Old Quad, the heart of the original campus.
North West
Hodges Hall is home to physics and astronomy. It is also an important
short cut to the PRT station. Beyond Hodges Hall, one finds Standsbury
Hall, home to the ROTCs, Philosophy, Religion, and English.
West
Eiesland Hall is a classroom building. Eiesland is home of the Intensive
English Program and the Women's Studies Program. It also features
one of the largest lecture halls on campus. Beyond Eiesland Hall
is Lot 11, one of the larger parking lots on the downtown campus.
North East
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A view of our chapel from the top
floor study area of Wise Library |
Clark Hall is home to Chemistry. Beyond Clark Hall is the Mountain
Lair parking garage.
East
The Wise Library has undergone major changes. An entirely new wing,
added to the front of the building, opened Spring Term 2002. This
wing houses the main collection and features excellent computer and study
accommodations. The wing is light, airy, and comfortable. Its
many study areas afford an excellent view of our chapel.
White Hall is the only 24-7 computer lab on campus. The computer
lab entrance faces our chapel. At crunch times (midterms and finals),
the place is packed with students at all hours. White Hall is also
home to Geology and Geography.
South
Pi Beta Phi is our only non-university neighbor. This stately sorority
house is sandwiched between our chapel and St. John's University Parish
(Roman Catholic).
Just beyond Pi Beta Phi is St. John's University Church and Newman Hall.
Beyond St. John's is St. Teresa's Roman Catholic Church. St. Teresa's
is building a new church outside of town and will be relocating in a few
years.
South West
If you think it is impossible to get excited about a parking lot, then
you haven't lived in Morgantown. Lot 1 (WVU parking) occupies the
land to the south west. There are on-going conversations between
the City of Morgantown and WVU about the construction of a multiple tier
parking garage on this plot. Should this come to pass, it could mean
the salvation of our Hough Street lawn--we were contemplating paving this
for a second chapel parking area.
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