New Mueller Hall Seminar Suite

Mueller Hall Seminar Suite Dedicated

On April 26, 1970 Valparaiso University dedicated the newly constructed Christ College building at a special worship service at the Chapel of the Resurrection. The donors remained anonymous until 1978 when the building was re-named to honor Ewald H. Mueller, pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Ridgewood, New Jersey; vice-president of the Atlantic District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod; and longtime member of the Valparaiso University Board of Directors.

Christ College is indebted to Rev. Mueller (1916-1991) and Mrs. Joan Scheele Mueller for 46 years in our campus home and an endowment that has allowed CC to keep up with maintenance, technology,and refurbishing our campus home along the way.

This past April Mrs. Mueller and members of the family joined us to dedicate the Mueller Hall Seminar Suite: a set of two handsome seminar rooms, a servery for hospitality in the Refectory, some comfortable seating, and a much needed storage area—all reclaimed from space that was simply “worn out” from decades of service as a large cafeteria kitchen providing daily meals to hundreds of students and faculty. The sophisticated re-design of the south portion of the building and the addition of a handicapped-accessible restroom on the main corridor of the building were made possible by a very generous gift from Mrs. Mueller.

Architect Greg Wehling of Moake Park Group, Inc., Fort Wayne, Indiana, designed the renovation and northwest Indiana’s Larson-Danielson provided construction services. They created a look for the space that is in keeping with the mid-century modern style of the building. Natural light floods the seminar suite through carefully placed new windows. Seminar rooms seat 22 each. Large white boards, projection walls, and technology tools support the kind of teaching and learning Christ College is known for.

At the dedication Christ College Dean Peter Kanelos welcomed guests including Mrs. Mueller, her son Rev. Rick Mueller ‘70 and daughter-in-law Kathleen Mueller, and her grandson Andrew Mueller, a junior in Christ College.

President Mark Heckler spoke on behalf of Valparaiso University. Other guests included Provost Mark Biermann, Assistant Vice-president for Mission and Ministry Brian Johnson, University Pastor Charlene Rachuy Cox, CC faculty and staff, and representative students.

Following lunch University Pastor James Wetzstein led a rite of dedication. Members of the Mueller family cut a ribbon and invited others to enter the seminar suite.