August 24, 2006

Buchheit Expansion

Addition includes Phyllis Buchheit DeLapp Board and Conference Center

and Vassey Technology Center

Architect’s rendering of the Phyllis Buchheit DeLapp Board and Conference Center and the Vassey Information Technology Center. Below: interior of the Phyllis Buchheit DeLapp Board and Conference Center.

From left: SMC Trustee, Howard Suitt, Chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee; Bill Roach, Executive Director of IT; Fletcher Thompson, former Trustee; Gwen Paul, niece of Herbert and Rebecca Vassey; Andrew Babb; Phyllis Buchheit DeLapp; and Dr. Charles P. Teague, President of Spartanburg Methodist College.

SEE MORE GROUNDBREAKING PHOTOS

Spartanburg Methodist College held a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for the Phyllis Buchheit DeLapp Board Room and Conference Center and Vassey Information Technology Center.

The $1.1 million, 4,213-square-foot addition represents an effort by SMC to meet technological demands and provide improved meeting facilities. Trehel Corporation is the builder for the facility, designed by McMillan-Smith Architects.

Despite rainy weather, the ceremony proceeded inside nearby Davis Mission Chapel. SMC President, Dr. Charles P. Teague, displayed architectural drawings of the new building, describing it as “a grand facility.” Teague praised members of the Vassey and Buchheit families for their support of the College, adding “It is always a pleasure to celebrate together something that is going to add a deep dimension to the campus community.”

The Vassey Information Technology Center is named for Herbert and Rebecca Vassey, who left a bequest to the College. The Phyllis Buchheit DeLapp Boardroom and Conference Center is named for Mrs. DeLapp, who serves as a trustee of the College and whose family has a longstanding tradition of support of SMC.
Teague recognized Gwen Paul, the Vasseys’ niece and Bill Roach, their nephew, for helping conceive the Vassey Information Technology Center. He also recognized former trustee, Fletcher Thompson and his wife Ruth, who befriended the Vassey family while they were members at Bethel United Methodist Church. Through this friendship with the Thompsons, who are alums of the College, the Vasseys were introduced to the institution. Also present for the ceremony was Dr. George Fields, former president of the College; Trehel President, Will Huss Jr.; Trehel Vice-President, Chris McGar; and architects Ron Smith and Toren Andersson of McMillan-Smith Architectural Firm.

SMC Trustee, Howard Suitt, who chairs the Building and Grounds Committee, expressed his thanks to Phyllis DeLapp’s family and the Vasseys for their generosity, without which the College “cannot make things happen.”
Thompson recalled the friendship he and Ruth had with the Vasseys and the Buchheit family. He characterized the Vasseys as a “unique and generous couple. He added, “The addition of this building we’re dedicating is literally an extension of the interest and and contributions of the Buchheit family to this institution.” Suitt quoted John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, “We should earn all we can, save all we can, give away all we can, for as long as we can.”

Roach, who is the College’s Executive Director of Information Technology, said he is looking forward to the completion of the Vassey InformationTechnology Center. The Center’s development, Roach added, represents “a huge step forward” from the existing computer facility.

“It has been an interesting process for me to see how this whole thing is happening as the building is being developed,” said Roach, noting that the adjacent Board Room will serve as a multipurpose facility that will take advantage of technology to provide greater opportunities not only as a meeting space but also for computer training. For Roach, the facility also represents a response to increasing information technology needs on a campus where most students have computers and more of them come to campus with laptops. He pointed out that wireless Internet access capability has already been added on much to the SMC campus and that more space is needed to address the increased demands on the network. Greater security will also be possible within the new center, said Roach.