By Mari Mejia

When completed in Summer 2009, the Institute for Global Citizenship will be a 17,000 square-foot, three-story gathering and office space. It will stand where Winton Health Services now is and will be connected to Kagin Commons through a first-floor corridor. The groundbreaking will take place May 16, with construction following in June.Furthering Macalester’s tradition of internationalism, the IGC seeks to promote and support student learning that prepares students for lives as effective and ethical global citizen-leaders.

Winton will be relocated to the new Macalester Athletic and Recreation Center and will open in August. Winton staff will be given temporary space from May to August, said Mark Dickinson, director of Facilities Management.

Construction of the walkway between the IGC and Kagin will block one of the entrances to Kagin, Dickinson said. Sidewalks will be re-routed to provide access to a different entrance to Kagin.

While constructing the new building, the school hopes to engage in an environmentally friendly approach. The Winton building will be demolished and much of the existing material will be recycled or re-used, Dickinson said.

In previous construction endeavors, this was not much of a problem.

“On the MARC project the estimate was that about 93 percent of the material was recycled or re-used” Dickinson said.

The pursuit of environmentally conscious construction is part of Macalester’s desire to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Platinum certification. The U.S. Green Building Council developed the LEED system as a way to evaluate the sustainability and environmental impact of structures being built throughout the country.

“We’re trying to achieve Platinum, the highest rating you can get,” said Tommy Bonner, vice president for advancement. “It’s an institute for global citizenship, so we want to embody global citizenship and be very environmentally friendly.”

Although the total cost of the construction project will be $7.5 million, the money will not be subtracted from the college budget.

“We’re going to raise 100 percent of the money for the building and not borrow any debt,” Bonner said.

This will make the IGC the first campus building to be constructed without accumulating a debt. Furthermore, a $3 million donation from Ruth Stricker Dayton and Bruce Dayton has helped the college get a head start on its fundraising goals.