Hartford Seminary Expands Campus
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October 5, 2009 -- Demonstrating its commitment to interfaith understanding in theological education, Hartford Seminary has expanded its campus and classroom space with the acquisition of property at 60 Lorraine Street for the creation of the Martin and Aviva Budd Interfaith Building.
President Heidi Hadsell announced the acquisition, saying that it will serve our students, providing increased space for the Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations and also additional classroom space and a long-needed lounge.
“I am pleased that, through the generosity of Martin and Aviva Budd, the Seminary is able to make this purchase,” Hadsell said. "This expansion reflects our commitment to further implement our vision of theological education in which interfaith dialogue is a critical part.”
The new Budd Interfaith Building is located next to the Seminary’s campus on Sherman and Lorraine streets. “Even in difficult financial times, Hartford Seminary remains vibrant and able to improve its service to students and the community. This new interfaith building will help us provide the best possible educational setting for our students,” Hadsell said.
Martin Budd, former chair of the board and long-time trustee, and Aviva Budd have made a generous donation for the purchase of the building, which was built in 1959.
Aviva and Martin Budd stand next to a watercolor depicting the building at 60 Lorraine Street in 1959, the year it was built.
"Relations between Christians and Muslims may be the most important issue of this century.” Budd notes. “The Seminary, in its small way, has been focused on this issue perhaps longer than any other United States institution. Support for the Seminary's effort in this regard seemed to me compelling. I hope this purchase will further the Seminary's commitment to interfaith dialogue, which is so important today."
The Budd Interfaith Building will house the Duncan Black Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations along with other faculty and programs, including:
- The Building Abrahamic Partnership Program
- Offices for faculty and staff
- Classrooms and seminar space
- A student lounge
- A prayer room
- Archive space for The Muslim World journal
- Space for visiting scholars
The building at 60 Lorraine Street previously housed the Christian Conference of Connecticut and the Capitol Region Conference of Churches, which have moved to new locations.
Martin Budd and The Rt. Rev. Andrew D. Smith share papers at the closing. Bishop Smith, Diocesan Bishop for the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut, is president of the Christian Conference of Connecticut, which sold the building to Hartford Seminary.
