Washburn University’s Campus Ministry is beginning to look a little different and soon it will be time to show it all off.

The group’s headquarters was selected to be a Designer Showcase House for 2010 by ERC, a community organization dedicated to serving families in the area. The group holds a yearly fundraiser that transforms area homes and raises money by showing it all off. For this year’s Designer Showcase, the 30th event of its kind, ERC chose Campus Ministry’s house at 1621 SW Boswell.

“We got a call from ERC,” said Rev. Eduardo Bassoun, pastor for Campus Ministry. “They asked if we were interested. ERC offered to do in three months what I had hoped for in five years. We calculated all costs and decided it was an answered prayer.”

The old Campus Ministry house has been torn down. Through funds from the United Methodist Church the organization bought the house being remodeled.

Starting with the outside, plans have been made to add a gazebo and a sand volleyball court. Inside, carpet and tile will be ripped up and replaced. The library, on the lower level of the two story house, will become a prayer chapel with earthy décor. The dining room will become a café area decorated in Washburn blue with booths and a big screen television. The kitchen will be redone, hopefully adding a stove. There are two bathrooms on the first floor. One is handicap accessible. Both will be redone. Also two small rooms will have an archway cut into the wall. The larger room will serve as the pastor’s office, but will be large enough to host small groups comfortably.

On the upper level will be a television room that can also double as an area for studying, visiting and reflection. There will be three bedrooms for the caretakers and a Jack and Jill full bath. There will also be a kitchen for the caretakers and dining area.

As part of the fundraising efforts by ERC, an open house offered a peek at the house Feb. 18-21. Visitors were able to see what the house before the changes are made. The final showing will run April 17-May 9.

“They charge $10 for people to see the before and $10 for people to come and see the final project,” said Bassoun.

On average, 10,000 people visit  the open houses each year. Part of the ERC project this year is to be environmentally friendly. The designers will try to use some recycled elements. For example, the shades will be made of recycled newspaper.

“I hope that the space will be attractive enough so that students will want to come and have a safe place to hang out,” said Bassoun. “We want to give students of all faiths a place to refresh.”

Campus Ministry is a United Methodist ministry, but welcomes everyone. For more information visit wucampusministry.org.