I am grateful to be able to address you this beautiful day. The invitation to be here has been a blessing to me. I have studied and prayed about the topic, I have enjoyed rich spiritual experiences in the process. My message will cover two topics: first, the plans of the Manwaring Center and the new Auditorium; and second, the vision as I understand it for both buildings.
We do not often equate the construction world with spiritual events. The Lord does. We can reference Noah and the arc, Moses and the tabernacle of the congregation, the temples of Israel, the Jaredite barges, Nephi's ship, the Kirtland temple, the Nauvoo temple, development of the smaller temples as led by President Hinckley, and the buildings on the BYU-Idaho campus as spiritual events.
Plans
Over the last two years I have conducted interviews with the Scroll and others to describe the Manwaring Center addition and remodel and the new Auditorium. I never know how many read and understand the scope of the projects. I am going to share with you today the plans for the building and some artist concepts of the interiors and exteriors. I hope that they will be a benefit to you.
The Manwaring Center Addition and Remodel
The construction of the Manwaring Center is split into three phases. The first phase was the construction of the addition to the north that was completed in 2008. The second phase is the interior remodeling of the kitchen, food court, the first and third floors in the same areas of the building. The third phase will be an addition to the north and remodeling of the first floor in the area of the original bookstore.
Visual Aide #1: The Manwaring Center will be the work horse of the campus. This is a representation of the first floor when construction is completed in 2010.
The light blue area represents the University Store as it now stands. The sales floor space has increased. The internal traffic flow for students and access to the selection of items are great improvements. When complete the main entrances will be inside the corridor in the Phase 3 addition across from the Activities area and north to the Smith Building.
The white area represents Phase 2 which is under construction now. It will be home to the I-Card offices, unassigned offices, unassigned meeting/classrooms, and one of the programs from the activities group. The unassigned spaces will be available for campus use through the scheduling office. Each room will be equipped with tables and chairs that can be arranged to meet the needs of a specific event.
The pink areas represent a student service area of the building with a C-Store, JoLynn's, Freshen's, and a bank. The C-Store will contain the items that were a part of Tomasito's . JoLynn's and Freshen's will continue with the original offerings in an expanded space. The bank space will be leased to a financial institution and operated independently of the university.
The green area represents the new home for the activities space There will be storefront windows in the halls to invite the students in to see what is going on and to volunteer. The final design will accommodate the Activities Program as it expands and contracts and changes to meet the needs of the students. The plan and furniture will be flexible to meet the needs of the program
The light yellow includes unassigned meeting/classrooms, a student gathering space, and practice rooms for interviews, string instruments, and quiet study. These spaces will be managed through the scheduling office.
Visual Aide #2: This is the plan for the second floor.
Phase two is underway. When complete it will house a new food court and a gathering space for students highlighted in turquoise. We are excited about the space. There will be a small stage to the north where performances may occur. The entire space will have wireless connection to the internet. Electrical outlets are around the perimeters for laptop use. There will be seating for 1,000 students with furniture ranging from lounge to group study to traditional dining to café dining. The ceiling height will range from 10' to 27' and the views through the windows will allow you to stand in the middle of the room and look north to the mountains and south to the Taylor Building.
The West Ballrooms, represented in white, will be unchanged. The area in purple is the office and classroom suite for the Dance Program. Specific areas include: two dance studios, costume shop with storage, and offices. The area in yellow represents the existing Event Management Office Suite. Orange is used to show the kitchen and food service support areas.
Visual Aide #3: This plan is the third floor.
Specific rooms on this floor include the new Special Events Room in blue, one new conference room in blue, and a larger circulation area around these rooms. Much of this floor will remain the same with modest face lifts. The Special Events Room will replace the room that is currently on the first floor.
Visual Aide #4: This is the view of the Manwaring center from the northeast.
The Auditorium
The Auditorium would be comparable to the Arabian horse. Its' rugged durability is concealed with an air of grace and stature. The following plans will give you an idea of the scope of the building.
Visual Aide #5: This plan shows the main level seating for the auditorium and the ten basketball courts.
In this plan we see that the seating is arrayed in a fan which allows the largest number of people to be close to the platform where the speaker stands. It also provides a direct view of the speaker without turning the head. There will also be support rooms including the Green Room for guests and a dressing room. The chairs will be padded theater style without cup holders. The platform will not be set up as a performance stage as we have in the Snow Theater. Uses for the auditorium will be spiritual in nature, i.e. Devotionals, Graduation, Inaugurations, CES Firesides, and potentially Tabernacle Choir performances.
The court space will be striped for basketball and volley ball. Other sports can be played in the space. The arrows show the entries to the building at this level.
Visual Aide #6: This drawing shows the Mezzanine level seating and the elevated jogging track.
The track will have 4 lanes and require 5.5 laps per mile. There is also space for the Audio Visual Production organization as highlighted in yellow. The entry at this level is on the northeast corner of the building. Visual Aide #7: This last plan shows the balcony seating. All of the seating will be comfortable and the line of vision will not be interrupted by columns.
Visual Aide #8: There is a spot in the lobby of this level that has a clear and unobstructed view of the temple. Marriage proposals will need to be scheduled in advance to prevent confusion and too many couples.
Visual Aide #9: This is a rendering or artist's concept of the interior of the auditorium looking from the balcony toward the platform.
Visual Aide #10: Aerial views of the combined projects and surrounding buildings. These views show the scale of the two structures and how they relate to the balance of the campus.
To date in the Auditorium the following are the vital statistics:
20,000 cubic yards of concrete has been placed 7,000 tons of steel have been ordered and erected 75,000 cubic yards of rock were removed 4 acres of roofing 7,000 light fixtures 212 toilet fixtures 15,000 seats 5,000,000 cubic feet of volume 1400 pre-cast panels
Announcement
These projects show the dedication the Leaders of the church as representatives of the Lord have to the university and education of the youth of the church. I can remember the first day when revelation started on these projects. I was sitting in this room, the Hart Auditorium, on the west side about the centerline of the basketball courts. The announcements electrified the room and the spirit witnessed the source and devine nature of the changes. After a pause I knew that the revelation was from Heaven through a prophet of God. The campus has changed greatly since the announcement and these projects have changed greatly since their inception 8 years ago. The size and complexity of the buildings design have changed as the needs of the students on the track system, the number of married students, and longer class periods have become clear.
Why the Buildings Were Considered
As the campus grew, the Administration reviewed the needs of the students. The strengths and the weaknesses of the facilities were and are evaluated. An outcome of the evaluations prompted many questions, where do the students gather? Where do they gather for devotional? When the President of the church comes, how many can sit in the Hart? What happens at graduation for the students who cannot obtain tickets for their friends and family who want to attend? A similar analysis was conducted on the Manwaring Center for the services provided by the University Store and the Food Services. The conclusion was that we needed gathering spaces for the students. The conclusion became the goal for the buildings; provide gathering places for the students. The two buildings will provide different gathering functions for the students. The Manwaring will provide social interaction. The Food Court will provide an informal gathering area for the students. It will be a location where people can sit with a light lunch or gather as a study group to start the big class project that is due tomorrow. The possibilities will be great and the benefits even greater to the students. We hope and pray that the Food Court will be noisy and crowded with students. The Auditorium will provide a place where the student body can gather en masse to be taught by the leaders of the church, the university and the community. It will be a place where the entire family of the graduates can gather to celebrate. It will be a place where all can gather to witness an inauguration, convocation, devotional, and firesides. It will be a place where the Spirit of the Lord is invited to every event.
Gathering
Gathering has been a part of the gospel from the beginning. It is gathering that provides strength and blessings to a congregation of saints. Gathering and the reasons for gathering are documented in the scriptures and by the teachings of prophets:
Three years previous to the death of Adam, he called Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, and Methuselah, who were all high priests, with the residue of his posterity who were righteous, into the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman and there bestowed upon them his last blessing. And Adam stood up in the midst of the congregation; and, notwithstanding he was bowed down with age, being full of the Holy Ghost, predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the last generation.[1]
Mosiah Chapter 2 records King Benjamin's desire to address his people:
And it came to pass that after Mosiah had done as his father had commanded him, and had made a proclamation throughout all the land, that the people gathered themselves together throughout all the land, that they might go up to the temple to hear the words which King Benjamin should speak unto them.[2]
When they assembled at the temple they were taught by King Benjamin. In chapters 2 through chapter 6, King Benjamin teaches wonderful and marvelous principles and revelations. The teachings include the atonement of Jesus Christ, the suffering of the wicked, how to repent and obtain forgiveness, exhortation to be steadfast and taking upon us the name of Christ. Finally he records the names of the people. In Section 37: 3
And again, a commandment I give unto the Church, that it is expedient in me that they should assemble together at the Ohio...
In this revelation the Saints are directed to gather to a central place, Ohio. Later, the saints were gathered to Missouri, Illinois, and finally Utah. This allowed the saints to be with the prophet and other leaders of the church and to be taught and strengthened. Section 110:11 reads:
After this vision closed, the heavens were again opened unto us: and Moses appeared before us, and committed unto us the keys for the gathering of Israel from the four corners of the earth...
Joseph Smith taught, "The main object of gathering was to build unto the Lord a house whereby he could reveal unto his people the ordinances of His house and the glories of His kingdom, and teach the people the way to salvation; for there are certain ordinances and principles that, when they are taught and practiced, must be done in a place or house built for that purpose."[3]
The Rexburg Temple is a result of the gathering that has resulted from the changes at the university.
Gathering and the University
The dream of the university is that the Manwaring Center will be a center of hustle and bustle. Gathering in the MC will encourage social interaction. There are students here who were the only members of the church in their school, their families the only members in the town. There are students here who have been shunned by family, friends and relatives as a result of joining the church. There are students here that believe that they are the only ones in the entire university who do not come from the "perfect" home. There are students here today who would melt with joy if their value as a child of God was confirmed by another child of God. As we gather, we find others who share and our heartaches and believed failings. We can find those who have overcome and can teach the way to success. So we gather to know that we have common beliefs with many people with a variety of backgrounds. Gathering at the Auditorium will allow the strength of the spirit to fill our hearts and souls. Students will sit at the feet of prophets and apostles to be taught of their worth; to be given hope, strength and knowledge; and a holy witness of the truth of the gospel. As members of the House of Israel, we have gathered to Zion where the pure in heart dwell and where the gospel in its fullness is available to all. This gathering is designed to give us a sense of belonging to something bigger than we have ever known. We can stand or sit or walk beside others who embrace the same covenants that we do. We also reach out to gather in others of the House of Israel. In our congregation, we can lean on others when we are weak. We can sustain others when they are faltering as we have been sustained. In a place where saints have gathered we can find the power of the gospel is a spiritual presence.
Personal Observations
I want to share some highlights about the review and approval of the Auditorium. Shortly after the announcement in 2000, we planned all of the construction projects that would be required based on the academic curriculum provided. The Manwaring and the Auditorium were scheduled to be the last of the construction projects. Time progressed and the original assumptions did not meet the changing realities of the students needs. A request was submitted to the Board of Trustees to amend the building program. Approval was given to amend the building plans to reflect the needs of the students. The amended plans were submitted to the Executive Board (First Presidency, members of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, and other leaders) for consideration. Three options were prepared: 8,000, 10,000 and 12,000 seats. The concept was presented on a Tuesday and the 12,000 seat plan was approved. On Friday, President Hinckley called President Clark and told him that he had been thinking about the project. Direction was given that the project should be larger and built faster. The outcome is an amazing structure that will allow the entire student body to assemble in one space and be taught by the President of the Church, Apostles, members of the Quorums of Seventy, other leaders, or campus faculty and staff. When we gather in a group of true believers, in humility, with real intent, we can be taught marvelous gospel principles, usually not by the speakers. You will feel the power of the Holy Ghost as we gather in one location to be taught at the feet of the prophet along with 15,000 others. These occasions will provide a great spiritual lift and strengthening to our souls. There is one other small blessing; you won't have to cut class to get a good seat. There are 27 front rows but there are three levels of back row seating totaling 768 seats. There will be holy moments when we can sit in the Manwaring Center or the Auditorium for the dedications. It will be a holy moment when the choirs, well rehearsed, have their natural talents boosted by the blessing of Heaven and raise our spirits to the Heavens. Each testimony will be uttered in a holy moment. In Section 29, Jesus Christ teaches that He will gather his elect:
Listen to the voice of Jesus Christ, your Redeemer, the Great I Am, whose arm of mercy hath atoned for your sins; Who will gather his people even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, even as many as will hearken to my voice and humble themselves before me, and call upon me in mighty prayer.[4]
As children of Israel and children of our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ has invited, asked and begged us to come to Him. As he beckons us to come He offers us earthly happiness, salvation and eternal joy. He has promised us his spirit when we desire it enough to repent. Jesus, the greatest of all is greatly concerned about us as individuals. President Monson, as president of the church, is greatly concerned about us as individuals. President Clark, Stake Presidents, Bishops, and home or visiting teachers are greatly concerned about us as individuals. The building will provide blessings to individuals through the presence of others. The growth of the campus exists not for the earthly attainments of the leaders but rather out of great concern for the youth of the church. The children of Israel gather to share and grow and support and sustain with each other in the church of Jesus Christ. I believe that there are some students at the university that have a great need to know that they are wanted, needed and accepted. Gathering here at the university, living the Honor Code, magnifying our callings, and caring for our fellow students will help us gain confidence in the Lord and Heavenly Father and that we can be blessed in our efforts. Our natural talents will be magnified not for our benefit but for the blessing of others. Gathering gives us an eternal understanding of earthly matters. We will be participants in gathering the children of Israel in from the four corners of the world.
Testimony
The buildings are part of Heaven's design for the campus to bless the students. Heavenly Father lives and is aware of our trials and tribulations. Jesus is the Christ. The Book of Mormon is true and the church of Jesus Christ has been restored.
Notes
[1] D&C 107:53, 56
[2] Mosiah 2:1
[3] Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith, Copyright 1938, page 308
[4] D&C 29:1-2