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National Center

Mack McCarter ’67 (MDiv ’71) is helping transform a downtown Shreveport city block into a National Center for Community Renewal.

National Center

Mack McCarter ’67 (MDiv ’71) is helping transform a downtown Shreveport city block into a National Center for Community Renewal.

Mack McCarter ’67 (MDiv ’71) often notes that while we know how to renew a building, we “stand like Neanderthals” before our decaying communities. Ironically, his group is now tackling a building too — the 16-story Petroleum Tower in downtown Shreveport that was donated in 2001 to Shreveport-Bossier Community Renewal. The once-prosperous building has lain dormant for more than a decade.

When reconstruction is complete in two or three years, the entire city block will be transformed into a National Center for Community Renewal that will host individuals and groups from around the world, and house a think tank that will examine and develop social technology.

It’s a $62 million collaboration between government, private industry and universities that will transform — and jump-start — the renewal of the downtown business district. As well as become an international launching pad for community renewal.

“This will be a teaching hospital, where people come and learn the philosophies, concepts and methodology of SBCR,” McCarter said. “Those who come will be immersed in the practicum and certified in the community renewal model.”

Already the project is helping the community — 50 hurricane evacuees and local workers are being trained at Southern University-Shreveport in general construction, asbestos removal, bioremediation and hazardous materials; skills which will allow their employment at the Petroleum Tower now and, later, throughout the state’s massive recovery effort.

Remarkably, the building itself sends a message about sustainable communities — when complete, it will be the first platinum certified ‘green’ building in the state. That means the state-of-the-art, toxin-free building will produce its own energy and recycle its wastewater.

“The greatest need facing us in the 21st century is to build a renewal industry,” McCarter said. “The construction of this “green” building is a major step in the right direction.”

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