The Baughman Center consists of two buildings located along Lake Alice on the

University of Florida The University of Florida (Florida or UF) is a public land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida, traces its origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its ...

campus. The main building is a nondenominational chapel or pavilion, while the other one is an administrative building. The chapel has seating for 96 people and is used for silent

meditation Meditation is a practice in which an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm ...

, private contemplation,

weddings A wedding is a ceremony where two people are united in marriage. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes. Most wedding ceremonies involve an exchange of marria ...

funerals A funeral is a ceremony connected with the final disposition of a corpse, such as a burial or cremation, with the attendant observances. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember and respect th ...

and memorial services as well as a venue for small musical or performing arts events.University of Florida Performing Arts – Baughman Center
/ref> The center, named after George F. Baughman and his wife, Hazel Baughman, the benefactors of the project and is considered an oasis of calm and beauty on the bustling campus. On April 18, 2012, the

American Institute of Architects The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to su ...

's Florida Chapter ranked the Baughman Center third on its list of ''Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places''.

History

The Baughman Center was the brainchild of Baughman, a university alumnus, who was the first president of New College of Florida He was inspired by the picture of a building he found in a '' National Geographic'' magazine — perhaps the Wayfarers Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes, California (1951) designed by Lloyd Wright, or possibly one of the northwest Arkansas chapels designed by E. Fay Jones (Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, 1980, or the Mildred Borum Cooper Memorial Chapel in Bella Vista, 1987). The Baughmans donated $1 million towards the project and after five years of planning, construction started. The building was completed in 2000. George Baughman died on December 24, 2004, and his memorial service was held in the center on December 30.New College

Design

The exterior walls of the pavilion are covered in windows and made of natural

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

cypress stained to resemble the surroundings plant life. The cypress is grooved vertically to give the appearance of individual tree trunks. The sloping roof of the pavilion is composed of tongue-and-groove

yellow pine In ecology and forestry, yellow pine refers to a number of conifer species that tend to grow in similar plant communities and yield similar strong wood. In the Western United States, yellow pine refers to Jeffrey pine or ponderosa pine. In the ...

and copper to mimic the look of

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

cathedrals. The front door is made of

maple ''Acer'' () is a genus of trees and shrubs commonly known as maples. The genus is placed in the family Sapindaceae.Stevens, P. F. (2001 onwards). Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Version 9, June 2008 nd more or less continuously updated since http ...

with inlaid Gothic patterns in cherry and an ornamental architrave of crenelated mahogany. The floor is made of three shades of

travertine Travertine ( ) is a form of terrestrial limestone deposited around mineral springs, especially hot springs. It often has a fibrous or concentric appearance and exists in white, tan, cream-colored, and even rusty varieties. It is formed by a p ...

marble Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite. Marble is typically not foliated (layered), although there are exceptions. In geology, the term ''marble'' refers to metamorphose ...

arranged in a geometric pattern based on the building’s structure. The pavilion is oriented so that the dominant axis coincides with sunrise and sunset at the summer solstice, following the principle of "Orient"-ation or East-facing that is common in major religious buildings throughout the Western world.

Gallery

Image:Model at UF Baughman Center.jpg, Miss UF candidate posing at the Baughman Center in 2016 Image:BaughmanCenter Inside.jpg, Inside view Image:Dsg UF Baugham Meditation Center Front Door 20050507.jpg, Outside the center Image:Lake Alice Winter.jpg, Lake Alice Image:Dsg UF Baugham Meditation Center 20050507.jpg, Another view

References

External links

* {{University of Florida Buildings at the University of Florida Tourist attractions in Gainesville, Florida 2000 establishments in Florida University and college buildings completed in 2000