Since 1924, Eden Theological Seminary and Webster University have been neighbors on Lockwood Avenue in Webster Groves, Missouri. For the last 40 years, Eden and Webster also have been partners in education, sharing facilities and working together to provide students at both schools the best facilities and educational opportunities.

It began with library sharing. For a time, the two schools shared their libraries. Then, the schools consolidated library services in Eden’s Luhr Library. Today, Eden and Webster share their combined library services in Webster’s beautiful new Emerson Library on Edgar Road.

But the partnership doesn’t end at the library. Webster also boasts a beautiful new University Center, with recreational, restaurant and meeting facilities that also are open to the Eden community. Eden, in turn, hosts Webster’s Department of Religious Studies on the Eden campus.

Today, we are continuing our two institutions are continuing their historic partnership to better enable us to meet the educational needs of our students in the 21st Century, and to continue as contributing members of the Webster Groves community.  We invite you to learn more about the expanding Webster-Eden partnership, and why we call it the “win-win-win” solution for Eden Theological Seminary, Webster University and our wonderful neighbors in the Webster Groves community.

The Webster-Eden Partnership – Project Summary

A “Win-Win-Win” for Webster, Eden and Webster Groves:

• For Webster University: Webster obtains sorely-needed campus facilities with no reduction in available parking.
  
• For Eden Theological Seminary: Eden “right sizes” its facilities and gains access to improved library and recreational facilities at more affordable costs.
  
• For Webster Groves: Preservation of an important green space in Webster Groves is assured; Webster University and Eden Seminary are able to develop needed facilities by using property that historically has been devoted to educational purposes, without acquiring a single foot of off-campus real estate or removing a single foot of property from the tax rolls.

Land acquisition plan:

• Webster University has acquired 5.25 acres of Eden campus property fronting Lockwood Avenue on the southwest corner of the campus. Buildings on this parcel include Luhr Library, Wehrli Center and the White House.
• Webster University has leased from Eden 4.4 acres of playing fields and green space at the corner of Lockwood and Bompart. This acreage will be preserved as parkland for use by members of the Webster University, Eden Seminary and Webster Groves communities (no change from current use).

Facilities development plan:

• Recommendations from the campus-planning firm will help us determine the best use of the facilities we have recently acquired from Eden. We anticipate the planning process will take several months and will entail community meetings and discussions.

Facilities sharing:

• Eden library collections have been moved to Webster’s Emerson Library, which is now the “official” library of both schools.
  
• Eden community members enjoy access to Webster’s University Center, including the fitness center and pool.
  
• Webster’s Religious Studies Department is housed on the Eden campus.
  
• Webster and Eden share parking facilities.