St. John’s College Opens New Student Center

St. John’s College will dedicate the new Winiarski Student Center on Saturday, June 30 at 12:15 p.m. on the St. John’s campus. Made possible through the generosity of long-time board member and alumnus, Warren Winiarski, and his wife Barbara, also an alumna of the college, the 22,808 square-foot center includes housing for approximately 45 students, meeting areas, classrooms and faculty offices. 

Santa Fe City Councilor and Mayor Pro Tem Rebecca Wurzburger will present a proclamation to the Winiarski family on behalf of the City of Santa Fe at the dedication, which will be attended by members of the college’s Board of Visitors and Governors, local Santa Fe dignitaries and friends.  

The Winiarskis and the Winiarski Family Foundation provided principal funding for this project through the capital campaign that St. John’s College completed in 2008.  The Winiarski Student Center, which is expected to earn a LEED Silver Certification, encompasses four two-story buildings and a senior resident apartment and incorporates numerous balconies, terraces, placitas and plazas.

Conceived by local architect David Perrigo, the center features New Mexico Territorial Revival design which responds to the local environmental influences and provides visual continuity with existing campus buildings. With the guidance of a building committee chaired by tutor David McDonald and comprised of students, faculty, board members, and staff great thought was invested into the layout of the buildings and outdoor spaces.

As the 50^th Anniversary of St. John’s College in Santa Fe approaches, signs of its stability, growth and commitment to student success continue to appear. The design of the Winiarski Student Center was inspired by St. John’s interdisciplinary liberal arts curriculum that encompasses the discussion of math, science, literature and music among many other subjects. With its steadfast commitment to quality inside the classroom through the curriculum, St. John’s opening of the new Winiarski Center represents its commitment to quality outside the classroom.

Warren Winiarski graduated from St. John’s College in 1952 and Barbara Winiarski graduated from St. John’s College in 1955 as part of its first co-ed class. The Winiarskis relocated to California in 1964, where Warren. Winiarski began his career in viticulture and enology; together, revolutionizing, distinguishing, and setting a new standard for American winemaking with the founding of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars. Warren Winiarski was inducted into the California Vintners’ Hall of Fame in 2009.