The Student Center & The Lobster Pot

By Ben Heimsath, Principal
Heimsath Architects
 
“Students are just like lobsters,” explained Father Salsbury.  “This place should be just like a lobster trap. We need something to lure ‘em in and a big space to keep ‘em here.”

In 1960, Father Salsbury shared his vision for the proposed student center for Texas Southern University with his young new architect, Clovis Heimsath. As they discussed the initial designs for the building project, this ex-fisherman compared his ministry to catching lobsters off his native coast of Maine. It became an image that guided Heimsath architects and future building projects at campus ministry centers for decades to come.

The Newman Center at Texas Southern was one of Heimsath Architects’ first church projects and the architects quickly realized their intuition and design creativity would not be enough for this challenge.  Their new approach would need to include students, priests and other ministers. The architects’ commitment to the collaborative process resulted in a design that grew from the experiences and inspirations of the building’s users, enjoyed wide praise for expressing spirituality to all aspects of student life, and instilled a company commitment to involving clients in the creative process.

In response to the dedication of new Student Center, a local design critic proclaimed, “Whereas Catholic centers have been traditionally built around a chapel; Heimsath conceived the new building to revolve around the entire life of a student, educationally, socially, as well as religiously.”

Nearly four decades later, the firm faced a nearly identical challenge at the University of Texas. 

The University Catholic Center (UCC) in Austin, Texas has historically served a mixture of university students as well as a core group of former student, faculty, and resident community members. The hybrid character of the community created a unique and vibrant atmosphere, but also strained the small facilities and basement meeting rooms. Overlapping functions were in constant tension. For example, student groups hosting a spaghetti dinner for freshman orientation and outreach had to utilize the Sanctuary space to accommodate dinners. This often made for an awkward and at times tense marriage between the demands of community life and liturgical space.
By the late 1990’s, it was painfully obvious that the existing building built in the 60’s was too small for a growing ministry. It was in serious need of repair and relied on worship space that was often described as uninspired, industrial, not spiritual, inaccessible, and ill-equipped to handle the growing community. Something needed to be done - and soon!
The Design Process

It was during the design phase for the University Catholic Center that the concept of collaborative design envisioned by Father Salsbury at Texas Southern was re-commissioned for another student center. This time residential, professional, ministry and student leaders were invited to participate in a Design Retreat Workshop; a brainstorming session that examined what the community did and designed a space to allow them to do it better. It was here that the group identified the most important needs of the space and provided direction for creating an overall design for the new facilities.

“The location is key,” Father Frank Sabatte, then Director of Campus Ministry, was quoted as saying in the diocesan newspaper.  “... (It) is very attractive to students and the building was designed to be welcoming.  We wanted to draw people in.” 

In addition to creating a welcoming space for students, retaining a certain amount of flexible space was important in the liturgical life of the UCC. While the main worship space had always been used for both religious and secular purposes out of necessity, a number of cherished liturgical experiences developed. For Holy Thursday, the chairs encircled the altar and the assembly came forward for the washing of feet.  On Good Friday, the students entered an empty room, and stood for the entire Mass in front of a bare cross.  It was important to this community that the new ministry space would allow such traditions to continue. Simultaneously, it was important highlight the consistency of the liturgical environment, therefore, the crucifix and the baptismal font were fixed and serve as a constant reminder of Christ’s presence in the life of the community, and a small chapel was included to provide a permanent worship space.

The Final Building

Dedicated in 2002, the University Catholic Center continues to enjoy a bold presence on the University of Texas campus.

With two entrances, one from the University of Texas campus and one from the parking area symbolizing the dual identity of the UCC community, the main entrance is unmistakable.  Two-story glass windows, a dynamic angled wall and a twenty-foot high porch beacon students from across the Memorial Fountain plaza, a main student gathering space. Once through the entry, the two groups coalesce in the common ground: everything flows to central gathering space, or Narthex.

With movable furniture and altar, the flexible Sanctuary space is still used for dinners, dances, and movie nights - a superb lobster trap. A new Eucharistic Reservation Chapel located on the corner of the building and visible from the campus serves as a witness to the faith of the community. The library located above the Reservation Chapel connects learning and spirituality. Also on the second floor are a library, classrooms, and student lounge.

Today, over 13,000 Catholic Longhorns are served by the many programs and ministries thriving at the University Catholic Center.

While a visitor to the UCC will not knowingly make any connection with Father Salsbury’s fishing analogy from the coast of Maine, the experience does resemble an old lobster pot.  Exciting entrances really do invite and welcome students and visitors alike. And once inside, there are plenty of places and activities to keep them.

Click here for more information and additional photos about this project.

Ben Heimsath is senior partner and manager of Heimsath Architects and focuses on design, marketing, group facilitation and client issues. He coordinates major design activities and collaborative programs including the Design Retreat Workshop.