By Emily Losito
News Editor
Revamping the Thomas Merton Center had been talked about for two years. After planning and meeting to iron out details, part of the old building has been torn down and construction has commenced on a new ministries building.
Duggan & Duggan General Contractor, Inc., of Allegany, has dug a big hole in the former Merton Center’s place.
Before building, there were meetings with architects and contractors worked from the program requirements. Spillman-Farmer Architects, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, met with all people involved.
The planning process took longer than expected. Ministries moved out mid-spring last-semester, so construction will take until mid-spring 2017 to be completed, Philip G. Winger, PE, said. He added that move-in will be March 1.
Winger, associate vice president for facilities, said ministries was heavily involved and considered during the planning process.
The 2005 strategic plan was updated in 2012 and the school has kept to that plan regarding Swan, landscaping, the Hickey, Shay and Loughlen Halls, said Winger.
He said the entire project with furnishings and future maintenance in mind cost $3.5 million; $2.5 million of that was gifted by Jack McGinley, former chair of the Board of Trustees.
St. Bonaventure won’t have another multi-million dollar project next year, but one will be planned, Winger said.
He added that the building is progressing on budget.
There are no major surprises so far during the construction of the new McGinley-Carney Center for Franciscan Ministries. Winger said that although steam lines from the boiler and telephone lines have been detected, there have not been any huge issues. Workers are digging next to the boiler, so they have to be careful, but that was to be expected, he said.
There will be a “great room” which will be one prominent feature, said Winger. There will also be a kitchen, offices for ministries, work-room for activities, two conference rooms and a prayer/meditation room in the base of the tower.
“One of the requests of [McGinley] was to create a building that speaks to this generation and to the ministry,” Fr. Francis Di Spigno, O.F.M., said.
Di Spigno said students were in the Merton Center all the time, even at 2 a.m. on a weekday. He described the Merton as the “living room” of St. Bonaventure.
He said that there will be swipe-card access in order to provide a little more security to ensure only Bonaventure community can use the space.
Winger said there was a desire to reflect the styles of the other buildings, but to include something prominent and unique in the new building.
Riley Eike, a communication major, said she is upset that she won’t be able to get much use out of the new building as a senior. She said she will definitely use it when it’s open. Eike is also excited that small things, like the bird bath, are still intact.
The building is renamed as the McGinley-Carney Center for Franciscan Ministries. Di Spigno said the name “Merton” will morph into meaning something more on campus.
“We have [Thomas Merton’s] documents, teaching plans, books and manuscripts,” he said.
Ministries has already begun moving his work to the library. There are preliminary plans in progress to have an interactive museum that will emphasize more of his spirituality, which was a dream of Sr. Margaret Carney’s, according to Di Spigno.
The construction will be closed in time to avoid the issue of inclement weather, said Winger.
Although the finished product is eight months away, Di Spigno said there’s a possibility of a capping ceremony. He said this is when the last steel beam is attached to the building and it will be a significant event to finish a 30-foot-high tower.
“It was a hub of activity 24/7 in a building that was rundown. Now, it will be a new building to reflect the [school’s] mission,” Winger said.
lositoek14@bonaventure.edu
