by Simeon Sanchez

Guest Writer

An exhibition dedicated to William B. Fyfe commences today on the lower level of the Spoelhof Center. The formal reception begins at 7 p.m., with a critique at 8 p.m. titled ``The History of Master Planning at Calvin.'' The critique will be made by Charles Young, former campus facility planner and professor of art history.

Fyfe was the student of Frank Lloyd Wright who initiated a ``master plan'' of Calvin campus construction intended to follow certain principles. Fyfe worked with William Spoelhof in the 1950s to choose a course of construction. A general blueprint titled ``Master Plan Assumptions,'' and dated 1959, has listed among its top priorities ``the organic oneness of knowledge.''

Frank Gorman is the current Calvin College architect and head of master planning. He gave Chimes a few reasons for the final choice of Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie School style: ``The faculty that worked on the design of the original campus were not looking for the neoclassical style of architecture found on other campuses. They were looking for something that was truly American and fit in well with the land of West Michigan, and I think they realized that the Prairie School style of architecture accomplished that end.''

Gorman also emphasized that the style is not the central concern. He mentioned the importance of internalizing pedestrian traffic while limiting motor traffic to unobtrusive rings on the periphery. Another priority is the unity of academic and religious life, represented by the triangle made by the chapel, library, and science building.

Planners describe the campus as ``organic,'' a strange term when applied to angular buildings, but it appears to be the most powerful guiding trait for campus construction. ``As buildings add onto one another they grow like a plant and they fit the land,'' Gorman said. On a small photocopied diagram of campus, the buildings sprout like the details of a snowflake. The buildings lay flat and have convenient connections; it is an example of Frank Lloyd Wright's aesthetic of form following function.

Will construction ever end at Calvin? ``I don't know that anybody knows the answer to that question,'' says Gorman, adding that growth is up to future generations. ``A master plan architect has to plan for a certain period farther out, and that period is predetermined - but it should also be open-ended.'' He said that planners want to foster the growth perspective.

The exhibition will feature successes, failures, plans carried out and plans laid aside.