In fall 2015, Covenant Theological Seminary will welcome students with a newly renovated Edwards Community Center. The improvements took 18 months to complete, and the result will be a facility more conducive to the relationship building that is an essential part of preparing for lifelong ministry.

Originally built as a multipurpose classroom facility, Edwards Community Center has served a variety of functions for the seminary. The space has come to represent the focal point of community life on campus, but over time it could not accommodate the needs of a growing student population.

The updates include a larger dining space, patio, and double-sided fireplace; a self-serve kitchen with seating around the kitchen bar; a café and coffee shop; a recreational room with fitness equipment and an elevator and. The center also includes more meeting spaces that groups can reserve for studying or discussions.

The new space includes upgrades that are LEED certified to reduce consumption, reuse rainwater, and utilize recycled materials.

Funds for the renovations came from a gift from the PCA’s Women in the Church and contributions from alumni and other donors.

In a press release, Covenant Seminary President Mark Dalbey said, “So much of what shapes us in life happens around the dinner tables in our homes. … In like manner, we wanted to create a place for our campus community that provides a shared space for those kinds of formative times, a place that encourages relationships and conversations among students, faculty, and others within our surrounding churches. These kinds of relationships help to shape our students as they enter into a lifetime of ministry.”

Edwards Community Center is named for the Edwards family, which has supported the seminary since its founding and whose legacy included the financial firm A.G. Edwards & Sons, now part of Wells Fargo Advisors.