Sincerely,

David Hoag

Phil Amos, Director of Facilities and Support Services
Randy Bergen, Vice President for Academic Affairs/Dean of Faculty
Ed Blue, Interim President
Jack Chism, Professor of Management
Mike Coling, Board Member
Andy Costlow, Architect, InterDesign
Pepper Dill, Senior Vice President for Enrollment Management
Doug Faulkner, Athletic Director
Dana Funderburk, Vice President for Finance
Lori Gaffner, Chaplain, Director of Spiritual Formation
Norm Hall, Vice President and Dean of Student Development
Tamie Heichelbeck, Administrative Assistant to the President
David Hoag, Senior Vice President for Advancement/Planning Team Chair
Will Krause, Vice President for Technology, Planning and Facilities
Dale Martin, Dean of Instruction
Charles McPherson, Board Member
Keith Stewart, Student Body President
Susan Watson, Board Member
Dave Willey, City of Greenville City Manager

The schematic design is the first phase of a three-phase process as you plan for a new building.  Our objective was to clearly define, develop a concept, and present it to the board of trustees.  By completing this phase of planning for the building, we’re able to take this vision to our alumni and friends as we seek donations for this project.  The attachments and illustrations show some of the work which has taken place over the last six months.

David Hoag
Senior Vice President for Advancement/Planning Team Chair

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Those of us on campus have been waiting anxiously for the grass to grow back across the demolition site.  Just this past week our Grounds staff pulled down the protective orange fencing and opened up the beautiful lawn where Hogue Hall stood just months ago.

This green space provides a larger and more open feeling to the GC campus. Already the orange leaves of autumn speckle the lush green carpet leaving our community with special place of tranquility.

We’ve added new photos in the gallery and as the weather permits will be adding more pictorial views of the “new” space.

Click here to view the new pictures.

For a building that had, over the years, weathered severe weather, earthquakes, and even a localized fire, the demolition took only three days.  As numerous people lined the sidewalk to see its destruction, comments such as this is a sad day, isn’t this too bad, and we’re losing a piece of history only reflect the general feeling of those of us on campus.  None of us wanted to lose this icon but its time had come.  In the final analysis, the spirit of the institution lies in the day by day relationships of our excellent faculty with the students that God sends our way.

Now, we point toward the future. A Master Plan Committee anticipates completing specifications for the new building by November and will make renderings available at that time.  As we continue planning, our fundraising consultants are meeting with key donors in order to complete a pre-campaign study.  Please pray that God will prosper these efforts.

Thank you for your continued support of Greenville College.

Blessings in the name of our Lord!

Dr. Ed Blue
Interim President

Before we can begin actual demolition it is necessary for us to relocate our main electrical circuit.  This task is scheduled for completion on Saturday July 19.  Beginning at approximately 7:00 AM and continuing until about 5:00 PM, power will be out in all buildings on the west side of campus, specifically Snyder, Janssen, Joy, Sims Union, Almira House, Mannoia Hall, Holtwick, Blackroom, Oak St. Residence Hall, Armington Center, Burritt, and Dallas.  We will make every effort to minimize the actual outage time.

On Monday July 21 we will remove the Hogue/LaDue catwalk with a crane and relocate it to its new home at the Ayers Field station.  In addition, Marston and Ladue will be closed on Monday due to the removal of the catwalk.  If you want to come over to watch, I would recommend viewing from the Music Center sidewalk area. After removal of the catwalk we will begin demolition at the east wall and progress to the west.  At this point we are not certain what day the tower will be taken down.  The entire demolition process will likely take two weeks.  Debris removal will begin at that point and continue until late August.  We are committed to saving a number of bricks from the building that will be incorporated into the design of the new Hogue Hall.

Joel Goodman will be taking photos and they can be found at http://hoguehall.greenville.edu/photos.  The master plan committee is working on the planning of “Hogue Hall II.”  These plans will be completed in October.  If you have further questions please contact Phil Amos.

David A. Hoag, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President for Advancement
CEO, Greenville College Foundation
david.hoag@greenville.edu
618-664-6501

Service activities will include a Historical Tribute to Hogue Hall, first-hand testimonials, music from the Alumni Choir, group prayer and a final bell toll.

“With considerable regret and sadness, along with recognition of the profound historic impact this building has had upon Almira College and Greenville College students over the past 150 years, the Greenville College Board of Trustees recommends that the president and his duly appointed agents undertake to plan and implement the removal of this landmark building, identify funds for its replacement, and rebuild a structure that is both practical for current College purposes and architecturally sensitive to the legacy of this building.”

The college has convened two committees, one to oversee demolition of the current structure and another to focus on programming needs for the new building. We will provide additional information regarding decommissioning of the building, demolition, fundraising and rebuilding as soon as this information is available.

I have already shared with you the major reasons that it has seemed more and more likely this would be the best course of action. Remodeling would be more expensive and even those costs would be much more unpredictable. The 150 year-old layout would continue to limit the ways in which the building could be used for more contemporary purposes. And the terrible condition of the very bricks themselves left us wondering if even the remodeled facility would be safe and sound. Our restoration architects have told us that they have never seen a building in such poor condition. And even the techniques used in other such old buildings (Eg. the School of Journalism at Missou) might not work because of the poor condition of the hand-made bricks in Hogue.

The Board will consider this recommendation in May. Meanwhile, we will move ahead to establish a Hogue Programming Group to consider the ways in which a new Hogue Hall might be designed. We will want to accommodate the need for modern functionality (including open spaces, ADA access, updated HVAC, & technology). But we will also want to preserve as much as possible, the iconic presence of this legacy structure on our campus and in our community. The group will also consider the timing of a “decommissioning” ceremony and the phases of asbestos abatement and demolition. Alongside these efforts, the Advancement Office will undertake feasibility planning for a campaign to find the funds for this project that will likely cost approximately $8m.

These are weighty decisions, that none of us takes lightly. I have been blessed by the amazing spirit of understanding and goodwill on campus all year despite significant inconveniences. While I do not know the plans the Lord has for us in this matter, I know that they are plans to prosper us and care for us. He has done so for 116 years, and when the first use of Hogue Hall for Almira College is considered, for more than 150 years. I am sure He is in control.

The following is a link to a Hogue Hall Blog where you can interact with others about this amazing piece of history: hoguehall.greenville.edu. But if you have questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me at president@greenville.edu or call 618-664-7000. Thank you for continuing to pray.

Jim Mannoia