As we enter the 21st century, the world community still faces the challenges presented by global poverty, violent conflict, social injustice, and environmental degradation. Meeting these challenges is the special mission of SIS. Our continued success in doing so requires a financial investment in student scholarship, program endowments, and, most critically, a new SIS building. Through the AnewAU campaign, SIS has set a goal of $25 million for the SIS building and financial support for students and academic programs.
Why is a new SIS building so vital to our future? As the largest school of international affairs in the United States, SIS needs a physical structure that reflects the vision of our founders and the success we have had achieving that vision. Currently, faculty offices are scattered across campus in 10 different buildings, and classrooms are poorly configured, overcrowded, and technologically ill-equipped.
The new 70,000 square-foot building will reflect our commitment to academic excellence, and the design created by the "green" architectural firm William McDonough + Partners, will highlight the school's concern for social justice, especially environmental stewardship and the responsible use of natural resources. The building has been designed to reduce energy consumption and minimize construction waste, and the architects are fashioning spaces that will protect public health by using natural lighting, nontoxic materials, and climate controls that ensure the quality of indoor air.
In short, our new environmentally friendly building is showing that buildings are more than physical structures; the new SIS building will serve as a teaching tool and a point of inspiration for students as they learn to confront issues of social justice, sustainable development, and peace.
