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Marbeck Center History

The idea for a building which would serve as a focal center of the campus came in a June 3, 1965 report entitled "Notes on an Architectural Statement for Bluffton". By October of that year, a general location for the building was selected and in June 1966, 40 acres were purchased near the site. A building committee was formed to begin planning for the facility that was to become Marbeck Center. On July 18, 1966, the Board of Trustees selected Jack Hodell as the architect and the Turner Construction Company of New York to build the $1 million facility.

After receiving input from students, faculty and staff it became clear that the new student center should contain many areas of conversation with a great diversity of size, environment and accessibility. The new building would also need to fit in with the natural surroundings of the campus. It was to be the "town square" of campus with the college bookstore, dining services, post office, conversation areas and student organization offices all in one place and all within a four minute walk from any of the residence halls.

This building that would serve so many different needs was to be named Marbeck Center after one of the great early Anabaptist leaders, Pilgram Marbeck (or possibly Marpeck). Pilgram Marbeck was born in Rattenberg on the River in the Tyrol around 1495. He was a member of the city council, and in 1525, a member of the Rattenberg upper council. During this time he still was a practicing Catholic and held a position as a mining clerk. He was removed from office in 1528 when he refused to inform on the Anabaptists. Forced to leave his estate behind, Marbeck fled to Strasbourg and became an Anabaptist.

In Strasbourg, Marbeck served as the city engineer and was responsible for the construction of the town water system. In religious matters, he was tactful, yet tenacious. He was saved from prison, but asked to leave Strasbourg in 1532.

Marbeck continued to contribute to the Anabaptist cause by working to bring together small groups of believers from across southern Germany. The coming together of Anabaptist groups at Augsburg in 1555 and 1557 may have been the direct result of Marbeck's efforts. Pilgram Marbeck died of natural causes in 1556.

Pilgram Marbeck was an important and influential man in the history of the church and it seemed only fitting to name the building after someone like him.

Marbeck Center was officially dedicated on March 30, 1968. Former Bluffton student, Hugh Downs was the main speaker for the event. Mr. Downs was at the time the host for NBC's popular morning program, the Today Show.

Marbeck Center Staff