Campus renovations begin at Union

Rachel Dorroh • September 10, 2024
Front view of Baldwin Place, a brick home with white trim, brick front steps, and a brick front walk. The front door is decorated with a floral wreath, a floral garland lines the cast iron porch railing, and plants in urn-style flower pots are placed at the bottom of the steps.

Upgrades to Baldwin Place on College Street are the first of many facility renovations to come at Union Commonwealth University. Part of the five-year plan Unite 2030, campus updates will help to support “town & gown” relationships and raise revenue, Interim President Dr. DJ Washington said.

 

“As an alum, as a former trustee, and now as Interim President, I care deeply about this campus and this community,” Washington said. “Investing in campus housing and historic buildings will help us attract more students and also support our initiative to bring the community to campus more often.”

 

Historically, Baldwin Place has been the home of the president and has been open by invitation for special events such as Christmas tours, open houses, and visits from celebrities and politicians. During the Covid-19 pandemic, such events were put on hold to protect public health.

 

Washington wants to not only bring back these opportunities for community involvement, but also open the space for rentals. With fresh paint and repairs to the bathroom, he expects Baldwin to be accessible for such use in the near future. To support this initiative, Dr. Washington has opted to live in alternative campus housing and has pledged a portion of his salary over several years to fund renovations.

 

“Union has a lot to offer, and we want to share it with our neighbors,” Washington said. “It’s a win-win.” He explained that offering Baldwin as a rental facility is one way to use resources for the “common good.” Community members can enjoy the benefits while rental revenue can go back into the fund for campus renovations.

 

Most recently, Union Trustee and retired Barbourville Independent School teacher Jane Skidmore enjoyed the space for her wedding ceremony and reception.

 

“Baldwin was perfect for what we wanted,” Skidmore said. “It was an intimate space for our small, family wedding with a lovely mountain view.”

 

She and her new husband Dwight Short enjoyed having easy access to nearby parking and Union’s onsite food services, as well. “The catering and food service were outstanding,” Short said.

 

Mills Construction & Consulting, owned by Matt Mills, will complete the Baldwin renovations. Once these repairs are complete, Washington plans to focus attention on residence halls. More details will follow soon, he said.

  • A scene from the wedding reception area inside the sun porch: tables and chairs with place settings including sage green tablecloths, glassware, silverware, rouge cloth napkins, and flower arrangements

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  • A scene from the wedding site: The brick-lined patio and pillars are adorned with white and pink floral decorations. Behind this is a brick wall with flowers in front of it and a view of the mountains in the background.

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  • This wedding scene shows a small statue of Mack the Bulldog on a pillar near a table of hors d'oeuvres, floral arrangements on a brick wall, and rows of chairs covered in white cloth in the background.

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Scenes from recent wedding at Baldwin Place, photos courtesy of Jane Skidmore.

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