Capital Funds
Building Projects
Das Waldsee BioHaus
Building Lesnoe Ozero
Building Sjölunden
Das Waldsee BioHaus located at the German Language Village, is a cutting-edge environmental learning center. In tune with the philosophy of the Language Villages, learning by immersion, this project is based upon the German Passivhaus standards for efficient energy use. The concept of the building is that its design will facilitate learning in all its details of environmental living.
The Building - "Klein Aber Fein"
This small building of 400m2 is a model of Germany's best environmental planning and "green" or sustainable environmental building concepts. It houses up to 28 people, providing space for environmental activities that the entire Language Villages community can use. The focus of learning is on everything environmental, reflecting authentic German culture.
The architectural design concept for the BioHaus is a compact, well functioning and beautiful structure. Built on an east-facing slope, the cubical building has two different structural elements. The base and back of the building, containing the dormitory and bedroom areas, are built with heavier materials. The front of the building which containing the common, shared spaces is built with lighter materials and faces south for solar access. These two elements are reflected in the exterior wall techniques employed in the construction. The walls of the base element are constructed of traditional insulating materials and are juxtaposed to a wall system constructed with the latest thermal protection technology such as vacuum insulation. The design reveals new technologies through transparent siding material so villagers and students can learn about the green building materials.
As an environmental living center, the BioHaus showcases cutting edge approaches to energy conservation and innovations in sustainable building design. Features of this design include a Passivhaus standard building envelope, an extensive green roof, low impact and healthy building materials, simple building technology, use of alternative energy resources and low energy use appliances and equipment.
Project Funding
The BioHaus is funded in part by a grant from the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU), with a design planning grant from the Kresge Foundation in Detroit, Mich. We invite additional foundations and corporate and private sponsors to support this unique educational project.
Over the last five years, a renewed interest in Russian has been noted nationwide at the pre-collegiate and post-secondary levels, as well as at the Russian Language Village. Lesnoe Ozero, the Russian Language Village, opened in 1966 at a time when the Soviet Union was viewed with great distrust and fear. Concordia Language Villages did what it has always done well: it used language and culture to teach young people about this part of the world. With nearly 40 years of experience teaching Russian, Lesnoe Ozero is ready for a permanent home that will provide top-quality facilities and an authentic environment. In adding a Russian site to the circle of Villages currently in place on Turtle River Lake, we will more fully represent the depth and breadth of world language programming that we offer.
We invite you to join in this important endeavor: to strengthen the Russian Language Village program by participating in this capital campaign. The Village is being constructed at the site of an existing resort, A Place in the Woods, which Concordia College acquired in 1998. The configuration of the log cabins lends itself to both the enrollment capacity and the cultural components of the Russian program. In addition, this site will accommodate all of our adult programming in a beautifully appointed international conference center. The total cost is $4.1 million, with a first-phase effort of $1.4 million.
This Project Encompasses Three Important Goals
1. Sustaining the study of Russian, a critical language for the 21st century, in the United States.
2. Creating an authentic cultural environment, an integral element of our immersion approach.
3. Adding an International Adult and Family Conference Center to involve people of all ages in learning Russian language and culture.
International Adult and Family Conference Center
In response to the growing number of inquiries for corporate training programs and more in-depth adult and family programming, the plan for the final phase of the building project is to feature housing and meeting space specifically designed with corporate training and adult/family programming in mind. Thirty-two rooms in this two-story wing will be configured to adapt to the privacy needs of adults and families, with private baths, an elevator and lounge facilities. The layout of the log cabins lends itself to both the enrollment capacity and the cultural components of the Russian program.
The facility will be technologically equipped for corporate participants. The entire site will offer state-of-the-art technology to meet the needs of corporate clients as well as facilitate the Village program. Participants will have high-speed DSL Internet connectivity and wireless Internet access. There will be several multi-language computer workstations to facilitate learning opportunities in all 15 languages offered at Concordia Language Villages. An FM radio station will be available to broadcast shortwave radio shows in the target language on the site. These permanent installations will provide interactive real-time connections with family, adult or student groups anywhere in the world.
Overview of Project Cost
We received a $700,000 challenge to complete Phase One of the Russian Language Village. All gifts received during this first phase of the campaign were dedicated to meeting this challenge.
Phase One: 4,800 square feet includes dining hall and kitchen, office (later to be used as gift shop), Red Square and landscaping, Conversion of existing facility (cabin conversion and code upgrades) $1,400,000
Phase Two: 6,200 square feet creates an international conference center and includes lobby, reception area, offices, large and small group meeting spaces, fireplace, lounge, facility acquisition $1,400,000
Phase Three: 5,000 square feet includes housing for 32 in semi-private and private rooms with individual bath, study rooms and lounge $1,300,000
Project Total $4,100,000
We invite you to become a patron of Russian culture in the name of an honored Russian composer or author. Please consider giving to this important endeavor.
Patron Levels
A gift of up to $1,000 honors Nikolai Vasilevich Gogol
$1,000+ honors Aleksandr Porfirevich Borodin
$5,000+ honors Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky
$10,000+ honors Modest Petrovich Musorgsky
$25,000+ honors Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy
$50,000+ honors Nikolai Andreevich Rimsky-Korsakov
$100,000+ honors Anton Pavlovich Chekhov
$250,000+ honors Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky
$500,000+ honors Aleksandr Sergeevich Pushkin
After more than 30 years watching Sjölunden grow into the leader in pre-collegiate Swedish language and cultural education in the United States and helping thousands of young people fall in love with the language and customs of Sweden, the time has come to build an architecturally authentic Language Village facility for Sjölunden. As we create this new facility together, we will ensure that Sjölunden villagers today, tomorrow, and for generations to come have the space and facilities they need to learn, love, and enjoy not only the Swedish language, but the broader world-view and international consciousness that the Language Villages experience provides.
Why a Swedish Language Village?
Sjölunden is not only the largest Swedish language and cultural immersion program in North America, but it is also the only accredited high school credit program offering four levels of Swedish in the United States. Since its founding in 1975, the Village has experienced growth in terms of participants as well as the variety and depth of programming it offers. It is at Sjölunden where youth develop a lifelong passion for Swedish language and culture, while making personal connections to contemporary Sweden. By adding a Swedish site to the architecturally authentic Villages currently in place, we will more fully represent the depth and breadth of world language programming.
Project Overview
The inspiration for the architectural design of Sjölunden is derived from the concept of a Swedish costal fishing village with attention to the color and façade often seen on costal waterways with a focus on the significance of water in everyday life in Sweden. The design model of a Swedish coastal fishing village provides the inspiration for an authentic experience for young people and their families. The path through the woods becomes the main street of the Village, as tightly spaced buildings follow the winding path from the existing Finnish Village. This intimate street scene opens up to a larger Village square, surrounded by public buildings including the main dining hall and the library. From here, another path leads down to the boathouse and the lake.
Phase One: Västugan and Stuga
The first phase of Sjölunden construction will create one cabin (stuga), able to house 12 villagers, as well as a weaving studio (västugan) that will allow villagers to explore Nordic textile and design traditions. Completion of these projects will enable Sjölunden to accommodate more villagers in the growing program.Timing: 2006 - 2007Cost: $485,000
Phase Two: Båthuset, Bostäder and Stugor
Continuing the design theme of a Swedish fishing village, phase two construction will create a boathouse (båthuset), as well as staff housing facilities (bostäder) and two additional cabins (stugor). Completion of these projects will enable more Sjölunden villagers to develop their sailing skills as they share in Sweden's appreciation for water activities and the environment. Staff housing will provide much-needed space for Sjölunden's excellent instructors—many of whom have contributed to Sjölunden for over ten years—as well as for their families and visiting educators. The two additional cabins will allow the program to house more villagers and expand its high school credit program.Timing: 2007 - 2008Cost: $745,000
Phase Three: Det Stora Huset and Biblioteket
Sjölunden's third phase of construction will add a main building (det stora huset) containing a dining hall seating 50-60 people, a serving kitchen, a traditional Swedish fireplace and a staff office, as well as a classroom building and library (biblioteket). The new library will allow villagers to fully access Sjölunden's extensive library of Swedish books, newspapers, comics, films, reference materials and magazines. It also provides a place for meeting, studying and enjoying free time. The dining hall and kitchen will provide opportunities for villagers to explore Swedish culinary traditions as they cook and eat together.Timing: 2008 - 2010Cost: $1,520,000
Project Total: $2.75 million
Join us to help Sjölunden grow
For centuries, Sweden has been characterized by its distinct natural beauty, outdoor lifestyle, and dedication to the environment. As we endeavor to recreate that unique character in a site for Sjölunden on Turtle River Lake, we turn to the flowers of Sweden for inspiration. With your gift to support the continued study of Swedish language and culture, we invite you to celebrate Sweden's natural beauty as we cultivate its continued appreciation together.
Gifts of $1,000-$4,000 honor Prästkrage—Leucanthemum vulgare Lam.
Gifts of $5,000-$9,999 honor Fläder—Sambucus nigra L.
Gifts of $10,000-$24,999 honor Lin—Linum usitatissimum L.
Gifts of $25,000-$49,999 honor Vitsippa—Anemone nemerosa L.
Gifts of $50,000-$99,999 honor Liljekonvalj—Convallaria majalis L.
Gifts of $100,000-$199,999 honor Gullviva—Primula veris L.
Gifts of $200,000-$299,999 honor Vit näckros—Nymphaea alba L.
Gifts of $300,000+ honor Linnea—Linnaea borealis L.
We welcome you to join us in the coming months and years as we complete our plans to fulfill Sjölunden's potential. With your support, we can provide an authentic, year-round home for programs that prepare young people for lives of global citizenship through the understanding and respect for Sweden's language and heritage.
Tack så mycket!
