Construction on Younts Center to begin in January
When Furman left its old downtown campus in the late 1950s in favor of more spacious surroundings at the foot of Paris Mountain, more than a few Greenvillians felt rejected.
After all, Furman had been an anchor in downtown Greenville for a century. The campus was a center of cultural and civic life. Some critics of the relocation even derided the university's trustees as a “country club board” for building a new and modern campus.
Of course, time heals all wounds and successive generations of Furman students, administrators and faculty have witnessed a gradual improvement in town-gown relations.
Furman took another step toward strengthening ties with Greenville during Homecoming groundbreaking ceremonies for the Younts Conference Center .
“ Furman has long desired such a facility. Our beautiful campus is a natural setting for academic conferences, wedding receptions, corporate functions, organizational workshops and large social gatherings,” says Furman President David Shi. “For years we have had to turn away such functions because we lacked a suitable facility.”
The 13,000 square-foot conference center and adjoining 1,600 square-foot pavilion, located adjacent to the Cherrydale Alumni House, will host large receptions, banquets, retreats and conferences when it is completed in Fall 2005.
The center's main hall can accommodate a group of more than 400. It can also be sub-divided into five spaces for hosting smaller gatherings.
During an October meeting of Furman staff, Shi said the university's rapidly expanding FULIR (Furman University Learning in Retirement) program and Summer Camps and Conferences would benefit from the added meeting space.
The DeSantis Pavilion, a paved and landscaped area adjoining the Younts center will host outdoor receptions and gatherings. Connecting the Younts Center to Benefactors Circle and Cherrydale will be a garden area honoring the late Edna Hartness, wife of Trustee Tom Hartness.
The center is named in honor of Melvin Younts, a 1950 Furman graduate, Greenville attorney and lifetime member of Furman's Advisory Council. The pavilion honors Blaine DeSantis, an attorney, Pennsylvania native and member of the class of 1975.
By accommodating gatherings formerly hosted by the University Center and Hartness Pavilion, the Younts Center should also help relieve traffic congestion at the very heart of campus.
Inside Furman is published monthly during the school year by the Furman University Department of Marketing and Public Relations. For story ideas, e-mail John Roberts, editor.
