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Virginia Institute of Solar Technology mosqueChristiansburg, United States
In 1983, Mujaddid A. Ijaz, a physics professor at Virginia Tech, and his wife Lubna founded the Virginia Institute of Solar Technology, intended to be a four-year school offering bachelors degrees in solar energy technology, computer science and technology, and electrical engineering. The 72-acre campus included a mosque, meant to serve students at the institute and residents from four surrounding states, as the closest mosque at the time was in Washington DC.
The mosque was an eight-sided structure clad in white marble, with a large central copper dome and 64-foot tall minaret. The inside of the dome was lined with a golden-colored wood, and sat above the men's prayer hall. There was a separate prayer hall for women. The mosque was intended to be heated and lighted using solar power collected from panels placed near the building.
Due to financial problems, the school was never opened and the campus, including the mosque and several other buildings meant to serve as classrooms and offices, was put up for sale in 1985. In 1987, the former Mt. Vernon Bible College in Ohio purchased the property, and in 1988 relocated and opened up LIFE Bible College East on the grounds. The mosque was converted to a college building, with the dome removed and a cross added to the top of the minaret.
In 2004, LIFE Bible College relocated to San Dimas, CA. In 2007, the campus was dedicated as the CrossPointe Foursquare Conference Center. The former mosque building does not appear to be extant any longer.
Sources:
"Appalachian Mosque to Serve Moslems." The Cavalier Daily, September 25, 1984. Accessed April 21, 2015. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=06McAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2HEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3106%2C1125780.
"Bible college to buy campus in Christiansburg." The Free Lance-Star, December 19, 1987. Accessed April 21, 2015. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Xf1NAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tYsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6023%2C3757933.
CrossPointe Conference Center. "History of the CrossPointe Campus." Accessed April 21, 2015. http://crosspointeconferencecenter.com/about/history-of-the-crosspointe-campus/.
"Islam in Virginia." Daily News [Kingsport, TN], July 1, 1983. Accessed April 21, 2015. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sEoPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=A4YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6353%2C11404.
Kim, Alan. "Un-Mosqued." Roanoke Times, June 19, 1991.
Location
900 Life Drive, Christiansburg, United States
Associated Collections
Events
1984/1404 AH
converted into building for LIFE Bible College 1987-1991/1407-1411 AH
Variant Names
LIFE Bible College East
Alternate
Christiansburg Mosque
Alternate
Site Types
Materials/Techniques
Keywords
Virginia Institute of Solar Technology mosqueChristiansburg, United States
In 1983, Mujaddid A. Ijaz, a physics professor at Virginia Tech, and his wife Lubna founded the Virginia Institute of Solar Technology, intended to be a four-year school offering bachelors degrees in solar energy technology, computer science and technology, and electrical engineering. The 72-acre campus included a mosque, meant to serve students at the institute and residents from four surrounding states, as the closest mosque at the time was in Washington DC.
The mosque was an eight-sided structure clad in white marble, with a large central copper dome and 64-foot tall minaret. The inside of the dome was lined with a golden-colored wood, and sat above the men's prayer hall. There was a separate prayer hall for women. The mosque was intended to be heated and lighted using solar power collected from panels placed near the building.
Due to financial problems, the school was never opened and the campus, including the mosque and several other buildings meant to serve as classrooms and offices, was put up for sale in 1985. In 1987, the former Mt. Vernon Bible College in Ohio purchased the property, and in 1988 relocated and opened up LIFE Bible College East on the grounds. The mosque was converted to a college building, with the dome removed and a cross added to the top of the minaret.
In 2004, LIFE Bible College relocated to San Dimas, CA. In 2007, the campus was dedicated as the CrossPointe Foursquare Conference Center. The former mosque building does not appear to be extant any longer.
Sources:
"Appalachian Mosque to Serve Moslems." The Cavalier Daily, September 25, 1984. Accessed April 21, 2015. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=06McAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2HEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3106%2C1125780.
"Bible college to buy campus in Christiansburg." The Free Lance-Star, December 19, 1987. Accessed April 21, 2015. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Xf1NAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tYsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6023%2C3757933.
CrossPointe Conference Center. "History of the CrossPointe Campus." Accessed April 21, 2015. http://crosspointeconferencecenter.com/about/history-of-the-crosspointe-campus/.
"Islam in Virginia." Daily News [Kingsport, TN], July 1, 1983. Accessed April 21, 2015. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sEoPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=A4YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6353%2C11404.
Kim, Alan. "Un-Mosqued." Roanoke Times, June 19, 1991.
Location
900 Life Drive, Christiansburg, United States
Images & Videos
Associated Collections
Events
1984/1404 AH
converted into building for LIFE Bible College 1987-1991/1407-1411 AH
Variant Names
LIFE Bible College East
Alternate
Christiansburg Mosque
Alternate