By Emily Cousins | Staff Writer
The Tidwell Bible Building was rededicated today to celebrate the completed renovation. Construction was completed six months early, allowing classes to take place there this semester.
The Tidwell Bible Building was opened in 1954, and it has been where many students have taken classes such as Christian Scriptures and Christian Heritage.
“During its more than 60 years as part of the core of Baylor’s campus, Tidwell Bible Building has served tens of thousands of Baylor students who have completed religion, philosophy, history, sociology, nursing, modern foreign language and sacred music classes in its classrooms,” the Baylor website stated.
Assistant vice president of Media and Public Relations Lori Fogleman said via email that new common areas were created on the first floor near the entrance of the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foyer. In addition, she said graduate seminar rooms, conference rooms and a graduate student lounge were created.
“The project was funded through a lead gift of $15 million from The Sunderland Foundation of Overland Park, Kansas, and a completion gift from the late Barbara “Babs” Nell Baugh, of San Antonio, and The Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation,” Fogleman said.
President Linda Livingstone said during the rededication that the renovation was necessary to preserve the building.
“It was also important not just to preserve the history and remind us of what this building means to this campus, and really what it represents about our mission, but also to make it a facility that really meets the needs of our faculty and staff and students today in terms of the dramatic changes we’ve seen in the way we teach and learn and do research on our campus,” Livingstone said.
Provost Nancy Brickhouse said the Tidwell Bible Building’s beauty is the heart and soul of Baylor.
“There’s something about a beautiful space where you’re also teaching,” Brickhouse said. “I love what they’ve done in terms of preserving unique architectural elements like preserving all the stained glass.”
Livingstone said the Tidwell Bible Building represents Baylor’s Christian foundation and commitment.
“It really represents our belief in transformational, well-rounded education, whether that’s in the undergraduate or graduate level, and certainly the importance of robust and high-quality graduate programs for our students,” Livingstone said.
