Clark Alumni House
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The Clark Alumni House, completed in 1993, was funded by the late K. Raymond Clark '30. It serves as a meeting place and hospitality center for Coe alumni, family, friends, and visitors. The House includes four guest suites, a large living room, elegant conference room, and banquet room which opens onto a terrace and enclosed formal garden. A bronze sculpture, "The Chess Players", sits on the terrace.
For more information, including rates and availability, contact:
Christine Kullander
Director, Clark Alumni House
Office of the President
Coe College
1220 First Ave. N.E.
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Phone: (319) 399-8519
E-mail: ckulland@coe.edu
We regret that due to official College functions, we are unable to accept outside events on the following dates:
- April 1, 2009 through May 17, 2009
- May 25, 2009
- June 11, 2009 through June 14, 2009
- July 4, 2009
- July 31, 2009 through August 7, 2009
- September 7, 2009
- September 18, 2009 through September 20, 2009
- October 1, 2009 through October 4, 2009
- October 14, 2009 through October 18, 2009
- November 26, 2009 through November 29, 2009
- December 17, 2009 through January 10, 2010
- March 6 through March 14, 2010
- April 1 through May 24, 2010
- May 31, 2010
- June 10 through June 13, 2010
- July 30 through August 6, 2010
- October 15 through October 17, 2010
- November 24 through November 28, 2010
- December 21, 2010 through January 10, 2011
About the Clark Alumni House
Clark Alumni House was opened in May 1993. Randy Kurzman of Weese Langley Weese in Chicago was the architect who designed this magnificent 10,000 square foot Georgian-style home constructed of brick and Indiana limestone.
The interior of the home is elegantly appointed throughout with black Brazilian granite, crown molding, and beautiful woodwork. The furnishings are equally impressive.On the main floor the furnishings are authentic 18th Century reproductions. The sofa in the Great Hall is in the English style, and the chairs are French, Louis XV.This eclectic style of decorating is typical of the 18th Century. In this same time period trade with the Orient was opening up and many of the wealthy took advantage of this new marketplace, and purchased oriental furnishings to be used mainly as accent pieces in their homes. A good example of this is the oriental screen hanging on the south wall of the Great Hall. The Conference Room furniture was built by local craftsman Steve Silver and includes a beautiful solid walnut table and 25 hand-carved chairs.
A handicap-accessible entrance to the main floor is located on the north side of the house. There are four guest suites on the second floor. One suite is handicap-equipped and there is an elevator to take guests between the first and second floors. The two suites at the front of the House contain king-sized beds, and the two at the rear of the House contain two twin beds each. All of the suites are equipped with a remote control television, clock radio, writing desk, armchair, dial-up access to the internet, coffee maker, hair dryer, spacious private bathroom, and ample closet space.
There is a small balcony located on the second floor, directly forward from the top of the stairs. This area may be used by guests to enjoy the sunshine during the day, or to catch a breath of fresh air in the evening before retiring.
The home overlooks a brick terrace and formal English garden complete with fountain, benches and stone walkways. The garden was designed by two Iowa State University landscape architects, William Grundman and Robert Harvey. These two men are among North America's leading experts on the design and architecture of English gardens. They possess vast knowledge of the plants used in the original English gardens, but had to take into consideration the extreme temperature changes experienced in Iowa when choosing plantings for the Alumni House's garden. Grundman and Harvey designed the pathways and arbor in the garden, along with the surrounding fence and wrought iron gates to be historically correct to the 18th century.
The Clark Alumni House is primarily used by the college community for official college purposes. As well, we are proud to host many of our alumni throughout the year as they return to campus and hold events in the House. As scheduling permits, individuals and groups from the surrounding community may also utilize the facility.
Wendy Dunn (Psychology)
"Coe’s faculty are outstanding in their concern for students and their willingness to challenge students to do their best work here."
