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Campus Extension Project III: A Short Introduction to Its Development

Celia Lam Juergens

Dean of Administrative Affairs

A New Academic Building in the Making

　　The past decade has seen the seminary achieve continuous growth in student enrollment, the expansion of its programs, and the enhancement of the faculty team. To support the growth of the seminary, our Board of Directors established the Campus Development Committee in early 2016 to oversee the study of the developmental needs of the seminary and to determine resolutions that will meet these needs. Professionals and talented advisors were also invited by the Committee to serve as advisory members of a subcommittee, the Building Committee, in order to assist the seminary administration in the lease modification application and to provide expert advice concerning the effective use of campus space. After detailed reviews of the seminary development by the Campus Development Committee, a recommendation to build a new academic building was made and duly approved by the Board of Directors. The project implementation is to be overseen by the Building Committee. The seminary community has been informed and updated regularly concerning the building project planning. Rounds of faculty consultation concerning the necessary facilities have been conducted. The meeting of the Building Committee with faculty representatives and the appointed architect resulted in shaping the design of the new building.

　　By the end of March 2018, the Board of Directors approved the proposed floor plans for the new three-story academic building with a gross floor area of 10,000 square feet. The new academic building will not only accommodate the needs of our 200 plus students, but it will also meet the requirements for the future growth and development of the seminary. The new academic building is composed of four additional components to the Sai O campus: (1) Grand Conference Hall and research centres, (2) Graduate School and study areas for graduate students, (3) student learning commons, and (4) indoor recreation and leisure for the community. Besides these, there are extended areas for distance learning and publication programs.

Planning for Effective Use of Existing Campus Space

　　The effective use of existing campus space has also been taken into consideration. Since the new academic building will provide meeting rooms of different sizes, offices and classrooms in existing buildings will be relocated and converted to increase the available faculty offices. Thus, the new building project has been expanded to include a remodeling plan for the fourth floor of the Administration and Education Block and the first floor of the Student Activity Block. It is anticipated that ten more faculty offices will be added. Plans for re-utilizing library space to provide room for the ever expanding collection of books and for the replacement of the 20-year old central air-conditioning system will also be in place.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

　　It is my pleasure to serve with faculty representatives and church leaders on the Building Committee. I have witnessed how we embrace and honor the project as a ministry of God. Every piece of information has been studied in perspective. New ideas are respected and explored. Every single view is taken into consideration through thorough discussions. Nothing is taken lightly. The process of planning has included many joyful moments of discovering the wonder and the grace of God. At the end of the day, I can be thankful for the collective decision and the partnership to build a new building on our Sai O campus. The project plan has come this far due to our hard-working and faithful servants of God. All in all, the progress of designing the building plan bears the mark of the leadership of God for those who are committed to His call to ministry.

　　I pray that God will continue to lead the entire campus extension project, and to provide us the required resources for the glory of His Kingdom. May your participation and support remain the driving forces in the growth of the seminary.

 

Let’s work together to build

a disciple community of

“faith, hope, and love,”

to support our

“Faith, Hope, and Love Project”

with prayers and donations,

and to expand the Kingdom of God

so that the church is blessed even more!

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