Faculty and staff moved in to Point’s new facilities in West Point and the Greater Valley Area over the summer, but most would agree it didn’t quite feel like home until students arrived in August. Since then, our new main campus has been a bustle of activity, with students hurrying to catch the shuttle, to get to class on time, or to grab a quick bite at the Dining Hall.

Once the corporate headquarters of textile company West Point-Pepperell, the Academic Center is a 77,000-square-foot facility that is now the hub of academic and administrative activity at Point. The central focus, upon entering the two-story lobby, is a water feature with a cross design in the middle – a constant reminder of Point’s mission. Most administrative offices are in the Academic Center, and the majority of students’ classes are held here. The Center also houses the Learning Commons, a 21st-century version of the library. There’s a game room and lounge area for students, as well as a computer lab and food court. On each floor, faculty offices are clustered around central “collaboration areas.” The collaboration areas serve as gathering spaces for study sessions, tutoring, lectures and discussion groups. Turn the page to see photos of the learning commons, and to read about another important feature of the Academic Center: the preaching lab.

Ever since its founding, Point University has had the goal of helping young adults spread the Gospel message. Throughout the years, as students have graduated and facilities and faculty members have changed, this goal has remained a constant. For students in the biblical studies and preaching ministry program, one of the greatest sources of excitement over the move to West Point was the new preaching lab, located at the core of the building. Not only would there be a larger space, but it would be custom-built for the preaching program. In order to truly make the space effective, a small group of three students pitched in to help the University make the space more than just an empty shell. The result is a cutting-edge facility for young preachers, teachers and evangelists to practice their skills and sharpen their homiletical swords.

In addition to faculty offices, the Fine Arts Center houses a recording studio and two performance halls. The soundproof wall between the two halls can be removed, allowing for a larger space suitable for student recitals. The Center also features a piano lab and a music classroom. Soundproofed practice rooms provide space for student rehearsal as well as one-on-one vocal and instrumental instruction. A Mac lab designed especially to meet the needs of fine arts students completes the facility.

“The Fine Arts Center is more than a dream come true,” said Dr. Byron Cartwright, professor of music and chair of the Department of Fine Arts. “We have facilities for teaching, rehearsing and performing that I never expected Point University to have. God has been good in so many ways, and we praise Him!”

The Dining Hall is located one block from the Academic and Fine Arts Centers. With its entrance along Third Avenue, West Point’s “main drag,” this facility will serve not only students, but the general public as well. Storefront-style windows facing Third Avenue showcase the campus store and McKinney’s Coffeehouse. In the campus store, students and visitors can purchase Point apparel and merchandise for the entire family – ranging from “future Skyhawk” baby clothes to shirts representing each of Point’s athletic teams. The Dining Hall itself is a showcase of reused and upcycled materials, such as privacy panels between booths made from old doors. Food service in the Dining Hall is provided by Kimble’s Food by Design, a LaGrange, Ga.-based catering and food service company.

Getting to the William T. Parr House from the Academic and Fine Arts Centers involves walking up a very steep hill – but the view at the top is worth the effort! This beautiful home, which was featured in a previous issue of Point Magazine, was donated to the University by the Parr family. In addition to housing alumni events and special University guests, the Parr House is the new home of the Advancement Office. Its spacious, three-car, two-story garage was converted into meeting and office space for employees in fundraising, communications and alumni relations.

“The Parr House is a perfect place for our alumni family to have reunions and parties in a home setting,” said Pam Hopson Ross ’78, director of alumni relations. “We are already looking forward to celebrating here with our upcoming December graduates.”

Our last stops on the tour require driving a few miles – or simply hopping on the Point University shuttle, which makes regular stops at these locations. Students reside in the Point Living Community at Crest Club, an apartment complex located just across the state line in Valley, Ala. The apartment complex clubhouse has been converted to a space for students to hang out and study, and is staffed by student Campus Life Ministers and student life interns. The clubhouse area also features a laundry room and an outdoor pool for student use.

Adjacent to the Point Living Community is the Valley Community Center and Sportsplex. Resident students are members of the Sportsplex, which offers tennis courts, baseball fields, soccer fields and a 54,000-square-foot aquatic Olympic center with a walking track, basketball and racquetball facilities. Ram Stadium, where the Skyhawks play football, is a short walk from the Sportsplex.
Behind Ram Stadium is the Valley Field House, which houses coaching offices and locker rooms for the football team and several other sports. The field house is also the home of the weight room for student-athletes, as well as the athletic trainers’ offices.
Point’s basketball and volleyball teams are practicing and playing in the West Point Gym, a city-owned facility that has been renovated to house Skyhawk sports and coaching offices. Outside the gym, a soccer field, baseball field and softball field have been constructed.

“The people of the Valley have joined with us in making an exceptional effort in building, renovating, and preparing athletic facilities for our student-athletes,” said Alan Wilson, head men’s basketball coach and interim athletic director. “We are extremely grateful and appreciative that we can play and work in first-class facilities that will benefit the whole Point community.”


-Sarah Huxford