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REXBURG
– The new Jacob Spori Building
will be dedicated on the Brigham Young University-Idaho campus Friday,
August 22, at 2 p.m.
The
44,000 square foot classroom building replaces the original rock building
that opened in 1903 and served students for nearly a century.
President
Thomas S. Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will dedicate the new building. Remarks
will be given by BYU-Idaho President David A. Bednar
and Elder Henry B. Eyring, commissioner of
education for the Church Educational System and former Ricks
College president.
The
service will originate from the art gallery inside the new building and be
carried live to overflow locations in the Kirkham
Auditorium, Hart Auditiroium and Taylor Chapel.
Tickets are required to attend the service inside the Spori Building;
but tickets will not be needed in the overflow locations where the general
public is invited. The service will also be carried live over KBYI, 100.5
FM.
The
building sits at the location of the original building and bears a striking
resemblance to its predecessor in size and shape, rock exterior, tall
windows and pitched roof. However, the new building is approximately 75
percent larger, due to a full basement and also because it is deeper (from
north to south).
The
earth-tone color of the building is slightly different than the original
gray rock and features a veneer of split-faced walnut travertine from the
Medicine Lodge area near Dubois, Idaho.
The
building was designed by FFKR Architects of Salt Lake City and was built by
Layton Construction Co. of Sandy, Utah.
Principal
architect Jim Lewis believes the finished building meets the
university’s request for a structure that would be reflective of the
old Spori
Building yet meet the needs of
the communication and art departments.
“I
believe this meets the challenge that President Bednar
gave us,” Lewis says. “It echoes the character of the old
building yet internally is modern and functional.”
Lewis
says the building makes good use of interior space and he is particularly
pleased with the 12-by-30-foot skylight that allows natural light to flow
down through the center of the building.
“It’s
a rock with a sliver of light in it,” he says. “It’s a
surprise when you enter.”
The
interior design features efficient use of space for classrooms and offices,
as well as an art gallery on the main floor.
Some
rock and woodwork from the original building were preserved and are incorporated
into the design of the new building. A central focus of the interior is the
triangular wooden pediment from the front of the original building has been
mounted on the third floor. The pediment is at approximately the same
elevation and location as it was in the old building. An outdoor terrace in
the front of the building will be bordered by a wall of rock from the
original building.
The
original building was completed in 1903 and housed Bannock
Stake Academy
(now BYU-Idaho). In 1964 it was renamed the Jacob
Spori Building
in honor of the first principal at the academy.
As
time and the elements took their toll, the original building became a major
concern to college leaders. After extensive research and deliberation, it
was determined in June of 1999 that restoring the building was not a
feasible option.
During
scheduled demolition in the early morning hours of November 29, 1999, sparks from a cutting
cable ignited the Spori into a departing blaze of
glory. Firefighters contained the fire, but did not attempt to extinguish
the flames that entirely engulfed the building.
Jacob
Spori was born on March 26, 1847, in the Swiss village
of Oberwill.
In 1879, he left Switzerland
and immigrated to Logan, Utah.
In addition to teaching and administration after the school opened in 1888
in Rexburg, he performed janitorial work in the evenings and traveled to
discuss ways and means for children to attend.
When
the academy ran desperately short of funds in its third year, some
consideration was given to discontinue the school until people could afford
to maintain it. To preserve the academy, Spori
asked for a vacation so he could earn money to pay the other two
teachers’ salary. His plan was approved. Through his selfless
sacrifice, no break ever came to the academy.
Spori served as principal of the academy for three
years, as a member of the board of education and as a member of the high
council in the Bannock LDS Stake. The Sporis
later moved to Bear Lake
where he served as principal of the Bear
Lake Stake Academy
for 1893-1895. He died September
27, 1903, at the age of 56.
Spori’s words on the founding day of what has
become BYU-Idaho continue to give inspiration: “The seeds we are
planting today will grow and become mighty oaks, and their branches will run
all over the earth.”
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