July 5, 2022

This paid piece is sponsored by Augustan University.

In fall 2023, the Augustana University community will have a newly renovated campus green space to enjoy. The renovation is part of a $50 million housing plan focused on new and enhanced facilities that will serve the educational, spiritual and holistic needs of Augustana’s students and staff.

The “green,” located in the center of campus, is undergoing renovations to include a 100-yard football field with lights, seating areas with charging stations, an additional outdoor classroom with amphitheater-style seating and water fountain. 

“A collective group of us — student affairs, facilities, the business office and institutional stakeholders — got together and said, ‘We need a space where we can gather 400 or 500 students for activities or intramurals,’” said Augustana Dean of Students Mark Blackburn. 

The renovated green will be beneficial for student organizations as they will be able to use the outdoor classroom and seating areas for a larger gathering space — which Blackburn imagines will be used for classes, seminars, meetings, concerts and reunions. In addition, the Viking Marching Band will be able to use the lighted football field for practice.

For Augustana recreational services director Mark Hecht, the renovated green means a designated space to use for intramural sports such as flag football, disc golf, softball and Spikeball.

“Our intramural program and sport clubs have been without an outdoor play space for years, so we are very excited to see the field in the campus green be part of the renovation project,” Hecht said. “As exciting as the physical play space is for our flag football program and sport clubs, it’s even more exciting that this area will have lights.”

As classes start each fall, the time frame for using outdoor areas is limited because of weather conditions and lack of daylight. With a well-lit area, rec services will gain several hours of activity time per day. 

An outdoor classroom on the south side of the green will be Augustana’s second — the first was built in 2019 and is located by the Madsen Center. Its installation on campus inspired area school districts to build similar outdoor classrooms. Blackburn hopes the addition of a second outdoor classroom will keep that momentum going.

“I’m a big fan of ‘influencing the influencer’ because that’s when change happens,” Blackburn said. “So, hopefully, we can push this out into the community and build more.

“It’s also about sustainability and flexibility,” he continued. “If faculty want to utilize the outdoor classroom, but the one by Madsen is full, it’s another space to have.”

To prevent flooding, the green’s retention pond will be relocated and include a water fountain. Its new location will reside closer to Bergsaker Hall along 33rd Street. The sidewalks that run alongside and between the green and academic buildings also will be redone. 

The renovated green will have natural grass, which will extend the timeline of the project as the root systems need to develop for the grass to grow. Because of this, Blackburn estimates that it will be complete in fall 2023 but hopes Augustana can host events, such as the festival of cultures, on the green as soon as next spring. 

“Just to see the smiles on students’ faces as they gather with one another and share ideas, and that they’ll have a larger space for special events and activities — that’s what I’m most excited for,” Blackburn said.