Building a center focused on social justice today is to acknowledge the uncomfortable truth that injustice persists in the 21st century. While, historically, the work of social justice has taken place in informal settings hidden from view, the Arcus Center at Kalamazoo College wanted a space that would bring these crucial discussions squarely into public consciousness—a place where current and future social justice leaders could launch ideas about social change in a nurturing environment that would be both visible and proud. Kalamazoo College wanted to ensure that the new building would harmonize with its surroundings, but the site presented the challenge of being adjacent to three disparate conditions: a residential neighborhood; the traditional, colonial campus architecture; and a grove of hardwood trees. The building responds to this context by embracing all three conditions with welcoming, transparent facades that are connected by gently arcing exterior walls. These walls, made of locally sourced, naturally insect-resistant Northern White Cedar set as masonry, establish common ground between the differing neighborhood and campus architectures and the natural landscape, while also setting a new, distinctive tone for sustainability. Renewing this highly sustainable technique presented the distinct challenge of proving its long-term viability. In Michigan, wood masonry structures date back at least 100 years, but contemporary masons have little experience with wood. Through consultation with the few remaining wood masonry experts, hands-on workshops, material testing, and detailed design development, the project became the first institutional application of this technique.

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