The Tree That Moved a Building

In early 1991 plans were underway for an administration building near the main entrance to campus on Chestnut Avenue. This new building, today McDonald Hall, would bring together administrative offices, student services, faculty offices and other departments previously scattered haphazardly across campus.

While reviewing final plans, it became evident the design would require the removal of a large live oak tree near the building’s northeast corner. While construction already demanded the removal of a large amount of landscaping, FPC business manager Steve Varvis and president Richard Kriegbaum saw this tree as worthy of preservation.

Redrawing the plans would be costly and change how the building functioned. Instead, administrators explored moving the building several feet west. Even this option presented challenges. The new site plan would narrow the space for driving and parking on the west side (facing Chestnut Avenue) and alter both the alignment with existing parking in the southwest corner and the relationship with Sattler Hall to the south.

But the most noticeable effect of this change was its effect on the east side of the building. Given the location of the Sattler Hall breezeway and Hiebert Library, it was necessary to keep the sidewalk between those two buildings where it was. The architect’s original design included an entryway with two large pillars that spanned this sidewalk, allowing pedestrians to pass between the pillars and building. Moving the building meant those pillars would stand in the middle of the sidewalk, forcing a slight detour for those walking by.

The tree still stands near the northeast corner of McDonald Hall. So, next time you find yourself making a slight course correction to go around those pillars in the middle of the sidewalk, look to the north and admire the mighty oak that was the cause of it.