Chip Pollard announces the $3 million gift and upcoming dorm renovation to the student body at JBU.
John Brown University of Siloam Springs announced Thursday a $3 million lead challenge grant from the Windgate Foundation to fund the $6 million renovation of Mayfield Residence Hall, the university’s women’s dormitory.
The challenge grant will match dollar-for-dollar donations to the project up to $3 million. The Mayfield renovation project is the newest initiative of JBU’s seven-year, $125 million “Campaign for the Next Century.”
“Mayfield has been a ‘home away from home’ for more than 10,000 women during its 52 years,” JBU President Chip Pollard told Arkansas Business. “This gift will enable us to restore and update Mayfield so that JBU can continue to provide an excellent residential experience for women on campus … We are deeply grateful to the Windgate Foundation for this generous challenge grant.”
Pollard said the while the Windgate Foundation has given the university flexibility in the timeline to raise the matching dollars, the goal is to reach the milestone within the next two years.
The renovation of the 247-bed facility is expected to begin in spring 2017 and be complete by summer 2018. JBU will entirely rebuild each of the resident rooms with high-efficiency LED lighting, sound-resistant construction, sinks and modular furniture, which will allow residents to maximize space and personalize their rooms.
The renovation also includes new bathrooms and plumbing; new furniture, equipment and décor for common areas; a new HVAC system; and a modern fire suppression system.
During the renovation, two of the three wings of the U-shaped dorm will house 140-160 students while the third is being worked on. Students will then move from one wing to another to allow construction to take place on each wing.
Originally opened in 1964, the hall had one major addition in 1978 — the construction of a new wing increasing bed capacity by 100.
“Part of this facility was built 52 years ago and it’s really never had a comprehensive renovation,” Pollard said. “This dorm houses about a quarter of our students and it’s time for a facelift. Four residence halls have been renovated or built new in about the last 14 years — this is the last residence hall that we haven’t touched yet.”
JBU’s $125 million “Campaign for the Next Century” is scheduled for completion in 2019, the university’s centennial. The campaign has five priorities: endowment and annual scholarships ($35 million), estate gifts for scholarships and program endowment ($25 million), endowment for academic excellence ($10 million), new and renovated facilities ($30 million) and program support ($25 million).
Wit the renovation of Mayfield, Pollard said that about 90 percent of the campus will be new or renovated since 2000.
“For me what’s really fun is to watch the excitement of students as the hear about a new facility that will help their educational career or be their home away for home,” he said. “I love to watch the students use their skills that god has given them in these new facilities and to create relationships the residence halls.”
With this donation, JBU has received over $78 million in gifts and pledges toward its $125 million goal.
JBU is a private, Christian liberal arts college with about 2,200 students.
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