Sometimes, a building is simply a building—with layers of brick and a collection of rooms. Other times, a building can carry a deeper purpose, becoming a vessel or space through which history is created by the generations who pass through it.

The Daniel House is one of those buildings, and this year, Samford celebrates 40 years of history in this special home. The Daniel House sits in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, just a mile from Kensington Palace. Samford acquired the house in 1983 during the presidency of Thomas E. Corts, and since then, thousands of students and faculty members have traversed the halls, studied in the parlor and walked through the front door to explore all London has to offer.

Corts had a vision for students to see and experience the world in an immersive, educational way. He didn’t want students to simply visit London, but to live there, study there and have intercultural experiences that can be difficult to gain in the classroom. With help from the Daniel family, the property was purchased, and its doors were opened to students in 1984.

According to testimonial accounts and oral histories, the first professors-in-residence braved the house without heat and took on construction projects to make the house enticing for students to leave the comfort of their own country, their classrooms and their friends.

In a 1985 issue of Seasons magazine, a typical day for the inaugural students was described. The day started with a 9 a.m. literature course, followed by an afternoon exploration of the British Museum, dinner at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese and viewing the Royal Shakespeare Company’s performance of Hamlet. As Corts had hoped, all of London was considered a classroom.

Corts emphasized the program’s importance because “it enables students to grow in global awareness, to see the diversity of human experience and to prepare for a world of international consequence.”

Over the years, the Daniel House has grown and evolved, but the core of the program has stayed the same. At its heart, the Daniel House can awaken passions in students they may not have even known were there.

Andrew Farrell ’08 shared how his time at the Daniel House formed his life path. “London has everything for everyone,” he said. “Within a couple years of visiting the Daniel House, I attended grad school back in London to study museums. It was from wandering about and exploring and diving into both the small places and these large international institutions that led me into my career today.”

In more recent years, the London Internship Program has provided professional development opportunities for students aligned with their career aspirations. From interning in Parliament to dynamic workspaces like Interactive Workshops, students are placed in roles where they are empowered to make decisions and produce work that challenges their own capabilities.

Lauren Doss ’08, MDiv ’12, serves as the executive director of SamfordGlobal and oversees study abroad programs across the university. She encourages anyone contemplating studying abroad to pursue the opportunity because once a student enters the next phase of life, these opportunities are few and far between.

Daniel House programs are designed to foster student development. “In the area of personal growth, we see students gain independence and confidence as they successfully navigate as international travelers. Professionally, students gain work experience as well as intercultural competency and ‘soft skills’ that come with an international internship. We’ve seen students find their vocational calling in the program, and we utilize our Faith and Vocation course to help students process the experience,” she said.

Alumni who have shared their experiences often note the fellowship and camaraderie they experience with the other housemates. These students spend a great deal of time together, and by the end of their term, they’ve often formed lifelong friendships.

Meg Donovan ’19 studied at the Daniel House in January 2018 and shares how the program shaped her Samford experience. “My favorite memory from studying abroad were the friendships I formed with other students I would not have otherwise met," she said. "One afternoon, several of us went and had tea on the grounds of Kensington Palace. I remember feeling so grateful for both the experience and the friendships.”

In 2019, the Daniel House underwent a major renovation. While several updates were made to maintain and restore the historical home, many features were added to enhance the student experience. Both students and visitors are enjoying the renovated facility, and the 40th anniversary allowed alumni to experience the house as well.

The anniversary celebration in March was packed with a week full of events planned by the SamfordGlobal office. From a networking event to walking tours to a trivia night, the week celebrated 40 years of innovative global education and an appreciation for Samford’s thriving global programs.

Tom Crosby, Samford’s director of U.K. programs and operations, has seen the journeys of hundreds of students during his tenure—from the time they enter the house to the time they leave—and is immensely encouraged by their evolution.

“This kind of cultural capital stays with students long after they leave the Daniel House,” he said. “It changes the way they view the world, enhances their perspective of their own country and fosters a nuanced understanding of themselves and their own identify.”

To support the sustained success of the Daniel House for future generations, a new initiative, called the Daniel House Family, has been created as an exclusive opportunity for friends and alumni to directly support the future of the house and remain an active part of the Daniel House story. By making an annual pledge of $100 or more, members of the Daniel House Family will enjoy benefits such as specific communications, events and recognition.

Daniel House Family members also have exclusive access to the first-ever Family Week in London, Dec. 16-22, 2024. The week will be filled with activities, dinners, community events, classroom experiences and walking tours. And if you would prefer not to spend the week in a bunk bed, you can still participate even if you choose to stay elsewhere.

Learn more about the Daniel House.

This story was first published in the summer 2024 issue of Seasons magazine.