In February, the Philander Chase Conservancy and Kokosing Nature Preserve headed south down Middle Path to a new home at 101 College Park St. Once known as Horwitz House, the center for the social sciences departments named in honor of the late Professor of Political Science Robert H. Horwitz, the building has been renamed Woollam House and is now home to the business offices for the two green centers.

These two organizations were founded in conjunction with the College to preserve the environment local to campus. “For over 25 years, the Conservancy has worked with local landowners to protect the farms, woodlands, waters and open spaces within a five-mile radius of the College and Gambier, including 11 miles of the banks of the Kokosing River,” noted Director of the Philander Chase Conservancy Amy Henricksen in an email to the Collegian. Currently, Kenyon College is the only college or university in the United States to establish its own land trust. 

For nearly 10 years, these organizations went about their business at 306 Gaskin Ave., just across the street from Bexley Hall. However, after the College spearheaded a decision to relocate last summer, the Philander Chase Conservancy and Kokosing Nature Preserve accepted that it was time for a change. Despite its new location, the purpose of Woollam House remains the same, and the former location will now be turned into faculty housing, following a recent uptick in need. 

The new offices are named in honor of John Woollam ’61, a champion of the Philander Chase Conservancy, whose donations have protected half of the 6,000 acres conserved by the green centers, according to Henricksen. Woollam House pays homage to Kenyon’s past as well. The back conference room was recently named Robert H. Horwitz Conference Room to honor the building’s original founding.

While Philander Chase Conservancy Intern Nina Nicoletti ’28 was sad to say goodbye to the old office, she believes relocating south will be beneficial to the organization’s place in the Kenyon community. “I think being able to be in a closer area where there’s more foot traffic just automatically will make Philander Chase more of a common name within the Kenyon community,” she said in an interview with the Collegian. Henricksen agreed with Nicoletti, arguing that the work done by the organizations is crucial to Kenyon’s purpose as a liberal arts institution. “Our rural setting is an integral component of the Kenyon experience, and we want the Kenyon community to know that maintaining Kenyon’s sense of place does not happen by accident,” she said. 

Next month, Woollam House will hold an open house to welcome the Kenyon community to the organizations’ new space. The event will take place on May 1 from 3 to 6 p.m.