An architectural rendering of the competed College of the Muscogee Creek Nation campus  / RENDERING COURTESY BECK DESIGN AND COLLEGE OF THE MUSCOGEE NATIONCampus design incorporates culture with ‘academic architecture’


OKMULGEE, Okla. – The College of the Muscogee Nation will host a ground-breaking ceremony on its new 15 acre campus, adjacent to highway loop 56 southeast of the tribal complex at 1 p.m. Nov. 10.

Gaming revenue and a Housing and Urban Development grant will fund the first building of four to be constructed on the site. Beck Design the architectural firm has along with the CMN building concept committee incorporated into the design Muscogee cultural features as well as traditional “academic architecture appeal”. Nabholtz Construction working with the Muscogee Nation Construction Management Department will be the contractor for the first project of this unique campus plan.

 

It is appropriate that the ground-breaking will take place in November, the Muscogee Creek month, “Ehole,” which translates to mean “frost month” - a time of change.  Symbolic features are used throughout the design such as the building facing due east to represent the new beginning that the rising sun brings. The raven which is a symbol of knowledge, a dominant feature in the CMN logo is revealed in the perimeter design.  Extensions of the building represent wings that will unite at the circular building commons, the heart of the architecture which appears to soar out of the prairie. A mound image and circle features are used prominently in the design as well. The building will reflect the Muscogee appreciation for natural elements of the earth.
Classrooms, lab, learning resource center, faculty and staff offices and a commons area will be housed in the new facility. Enrollment demands have grown so greatly that the building will be used at fullest capacity when classes begin in Spring, 2010.