There are at least two buildings on the campus of the Montreat Conference Center that have achieved some notoriety in architectural circles, and I love asking longtime Montreaters: Can you name the two buildings?1
I’ll give you the easy one: Anderson Auditorium, originally designed by Richard Sharp Smith. North Carolina historians describe Smith as one of the architects who most shaped the visual identity of Asheville and western North Carolina in the early twentieth century. You can read more about Smith’s influence on Montreat architecture in the article “If These Stones Could Talk: A History of Montreat through its Stone Architecture” by Grambling, Slusser, and Thomas which can be found in the Presbyterian Heritage Center.
The other building? (See how many hints you need.) The other building is a place where friendships are formed, where families connect and reconnect between conference activities and Clubs, where lifelong memories sometimes spring from chance encounters. It serves as a kitchen for some, as a living room to others, and to many more a centrally located landmark and meeting spot…and in my experience, the other building’s outward appearance sparks more comments, both pro and con, than any other single building in Montreat.
Still don’t know? Final hint: You can buy a great sweatshirt there.
When it was completed in 1965, Moore Center represented a bold geometric statement for a forward-looking conference center. And yes, its design earned a merit award from the North Carolina chapter of the American Institute of Architects, a fact rediscovered a few years ago when a member of our staff was moving furniture and found a long-forgotten certificate behind a chest of drawers. When I got that news, I laughed hard, thinking first of some opinions I’d fielded through the years on the topic of Moore Center’s mid-century…um, appeal (and kept laughing because, hey, I’m not sure it’s my personal favorite, either).
Then again, the real attraction of Moore Center has never simply been the building or its design, but the community it makes possible. Let’s say this for the architects: Before a first-time guest can find community life in Montreat, it must be built and nurtured, and we can enhance community life when we invest in spaces like Moore Center. This was the rationale for our renovation of The Huck several years ago, and why we keep it open year-round. It’s why we are continually seeking to improve The Montreat Store, which has recently launched its own bold missional statement, The Good Steward.
Opened in the space vacated by Ten Thousand Villages, The Good Steward is an extension of The Montreat Store and a mission of Montreat Conference Center. It presents a fresh take on a welcoming space that reflects values of hospitality and sustainability by offering curated goods from local and global artisans, emphasizing conscious shopping and the human stories behind each item. Its mission is to foster genuine connection while celebrating craft, art, and stewardship of our natural environment, providing guests and passersby with quality merchandise and welcome – a retail opportunity but a community opportunity as well. Stop by to shop or enjoy the beautiful view of Lake Susan.
And so, true to its roots, Moore Center now offers one more attraction for conference participants, cottagers, youth groups, clergy, families, and first-time visitors; one more opportunity to incubate the kind of walk-in community that does us all good to join, at least once in a while. That’s why we keep investing in Lake Susan and the facilities around it – because when we get it right – and by “we,” I mean all of us, not just the architects – Montreat becomes an even more welcoming and inclusive community.
I hope to see you out there this summer!
Richard DuBose
President, Montreat Conference Center
- There may be more, but I’m aware of these two. ↩︎