 
Assembly Resolution No. 1187
 
BY: M. of A. Fahy
 
        COMMEMORATING the 50th Anniversary of the Chapel +
        Cultural Center
 
  WHEREAS,  It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that
the quality and character of life in the communities  across  the  great
State  of  New  York is reflective of certain exemplary cultural centers
whose purpose is dedicated to serving students, community and the  needs
of its citizenry; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Chapel + Cultural Center; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  Chapel  +  Cultural  Center  (C+CC) is a multipurpose
performing  arts  and  worship  space  which  serves  the   educational,
cultural,  social,  and  spiritual  needs  of the Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute (RPI), as well as the surrounding  Troy  and  greater  Capital
Region communities; and
 
  WHEREAS, The facility is owned and operated by the Rensselaer Newman
Foundation  (RNF),  a nonprofit corporation chartered in 1963 by the New
York State  Board  of  Regents  to  provide  artistic,  educational  and
religious programming in the City of Troy, New York; and
 
  WHEREAS,  In  addition  to its secular role as a performing arts and
social center, the Chapel + Cultural Center is home  to  the  University
Parish of Christ Sun of Justice, a Roman Catholic parish affiliated with
the Diocese of Albany, and led by Father Ed Kacerguis; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Affectionately  known as Fred by many RPI students, Father
Ed Kacerguis has been serving the Diocese of Albany  in  the  priesthood
since 1982; he is also the Treasurer of the Rensselaer Newman Foundation
and Religious Programs Coordinator for RPI; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The Chapel + Cultural Center has an acclaimed art gallery,
with exhibitions changing every eight weeks;  the  facility  also  hosts
many  student-oriented parties and events throughout the year, including
a  Welcome  Picnic,  Family  Weekend  Receptions,  a  Halloween   party,
Christmas   celebrations,   a   Mardi  Gras  party,  various  Holy  Week
observances, and more; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  building  is  an  important  example   of   modernist
architecture   that   represents   the   best  of  1960-era  design  and
construction practices; its design reflects modernist ideals of utility,
economy, and honesty of purpose and adornment; and
 
  WHEREAS, The  Chapel  +  Cultural  Center  truly  transcends  church
architecture,  drawing  its  adornment from the people and activities it
houses in its assembly spaces and on its terraces and lawns; and
 
  WHEREAS, On February 22, 2011, the United States Department  of  the
Interior  recognized  the  Chapel  + Cultural Center's architectural and
 
social significance by adding it to the National  Registry  of  Historic
Places, making it the youngest structure on the registry; and
 
  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proudly moved to honor and commend
the faculty and staff, past and present, of the Chapel + Cultural Center
who have labored so conscientiously to secure and improve the quality of
life  for  the students and community it serves, noting the significance
of its unremitting efforts to build a commonality of interest and  pride
of cooperative achievement; now, therefore, be it
 
  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Chapel + Cultural Center; and be
it further
 
  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted  to  the  Chapel  +  Cultural Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute, Troy, New York.
Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Chapel + Cultural Center

What's Happening

Why It Matters
