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On a trip to Philadelphia in 1989, Dallas Baptist University President Dr. Gary Cook felt a prompting from the Holy Spirit as he stood in front of Independence Hall. Widely known as the US “birthplace of independence,” the Georgian building witnessed the signing of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, inextricably linking it to the founding of the United States. Brimming with inspiration, Cook and DBU’s Board of Trustees decided to pattern all future campus development after historic buildings from American history.
At DBU, that colonial-inspired design mixes with distinctive patriotic themes, but all decisions, architectural or otherwise, serve a higher purpose. Jonathan Teat, senior vice president, understands that sentiment as deeply as any leader at DBU.
“Everyone here feels a genuine call to be at DBU,” Teat explains. “If you were to talk to our faculty and staff, you would hear an articulated sense of a call by God to serve our students at here. I hope people who may not know about DBU can understand that God has gifted us with an incredible vision to build a great Christian university that develops servant leaders, and it’s our mission to faithfully steward that higher purpose with excellence in everything that we do.”
From a design perspective, the campus centers on the Patty and Bo Pilgrim Chapel. Teat says the chapel is purposefully positioned in the most prominent building site on the campus because its presence and function best exemplify and embody DBU’s faith-driven mission.
“Every week, the DBU family joins together inside Pilgrim Chapel for our chapel services, which are a core part of the DBU experience. Attendance is a graduation requirement for our students, and this sacred hour on campus serves as a foundational means by which we prioritize spiritual development and discipleship as a result of our commitment to integrating faith into the higher education experience.”
Opposite of the Pilgrim Chapel’s parking lot stands the Dr. William B. Dean, MD Learning Center. The Dr. William B. Dean, MD Learning Center-inspired by Harvard Hall, opened its doors in 2016. The building is home to DBU’s Center for Service-Learning, another key aspect of the DBU experience. Teat says that the scholarships students earn are contingent upon service to the local community, further strengthening the development of servant leadership in DBU’s graduates.
“We have an entire department that facilitates students connecting with our Kingdom partners in the community, who are literally making a difference each and every day in their spheres of influence,” Teat says, “whether they’re serving foster care organizations, working in food kitchens, or supporting church and other ministry organizations. Our students, on average, contribute more than 100,000 hours of community service every year.”
Keen-eyed visitors may recognize architectural designs on campus that reflect styles they’ve encountered across the United States. Jim and Sally Nation Hall, for instance, is modeled after Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello estate. On-campus student housing has been modeled after the brownstone row housing of the Northeast, along with townhome residences inspired by colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. These intentional design choices have been a mainstay at the university since Dr. Cook’s experience in Philadelphia and continues today under current President, Dr. Adam C. Wright’s leadership. Teat, who began serving at DBU in 2008, has witnessed this vision become reality ever since.
“Since 1999, we’ve opened between one to three new facilities,” Teat explains. “This 25-year stretch has been an incredible season of growth and development, and we’re striving diligently to be good stewards of how we grow. We want to grow in a way that allows for sustained success beyond the construction process in accordance with God’s plan for DBU.”
While DBU’s design choices may harken back to past centuries, the school is focused on the future of Christian education. Teat says DBU leaders know that prospective college students have a multitude of choices. He’s proud to serve alongside the world-class faculty that the institution has assembled to carry out DBU’s mission and propel the university forward. When developing the concept for a possible new building project, DBU leadership strives to integrate modern amenities while consistently delivering on the university’s commitment to its architectural heritage.
“Everyone here feels a genuine call to be at DBU.”
Jonathan Teat
“We strive to create and deliver spaces that allow for traditional and nontraditional learning experiences that support our intentional mission to prepare Christ-centered servant leaders across a variety of academic disciplines and career paths, and we want to create a physical environment that also reflects our commitment to both God and country,” he said.
Walking about campus, it’s more common than not to encounter scriptural readings on walls, American flags and other historical references to the founding of the United States, and crosses that remind students, faculty, and staff of their shared faith. For students looking for an exceptional Christ-centered education Teat says DBU students feel a profound connection to the university’s founding principles.
Teat turns around a question about his own leadership to shed light on the leaders who inspire him at DBU.
“Everything we do is a reflection of our leadership’s commitment to our Christ-centered mission, from our president throughout the DBU Family,” he says. Teat adds because of their faith, their drive for excellence has allowed them to creatively collaborate with architects and engineers to deliver projects that hit the aesthetic mark.
Teat remains confident that despite the incredible growth, DBU will continue to uphold its faith-driven mandate. Teat says, “By the grace of God, we will continue to faithfully press on toward our mission with the confidence that DBU’s unique impact on its students, who become Christian servant leaders in their communities, will have ripple effects for decades to come. What God has allowed, as far as campus growth and development is concerned, is a miracle in and of itself; there is no doubt about that. Our students and graduates represent DBU’s vital contribution to society in that our students go out into the world with the character, knowledge, and competencies needed to transform the world for the glory of God.”
Tutor Electrical Service Inc. is a proud partner of Jonathan Teat, Dallas Baptist University, and Patriot Athletics as they strive to faithfully fulfill their mission of preparing Christian servant leaders for Kingdom impact. With extensive industry experience and the innovation, deep understanding, and commitment of our team of electrical professionals, we continue to provide electrical design and construction services to both build and maintain the spaces where students live, study, and play.
