One of Loyola’s most historic buildings is one that the majority of students have never entered, much less heard of.

Thomas Hall, which was once a Jesuit residence and a temporary dormitory after Hurricane Katrina, has now entered the planning stage to become a welcome center for prospective students and parents.

“That will be our admissions front door for new parents and students, and the front door of the visitor’s center, a kind of welcoming place,” said Ann Moss, director of facilities operations. “Since it’s right on (St. Charles Avenue), it makes good sense.”

Moss added that there are hopes to make it into a “one-stop shop” for current students by moving the offices of Financial Aid, Student Records, Student Finance and the Bursar’s Office into the building. Mathes Brierre Architects have been hired to remodel it, but the planning is only in the initial stages.

“We’re just beginning the review and the programming part of the study to see who can fit and what we can do,” she said. “Right now, Thomas Hall is just closed. It’s not being used for anything. It’s awaiting renovation.”

According to the Rev. James Bradley, S.J., the rector of the Jesuit community and associate director of the Jesuit Center, Thomas Hall was built in 1911 as Jesuit residence. The building’s name is in honor of Louise C. Thomas, a benefactor who helped fund its construction. Thomas Hall remained the Jesuit residence until August 2005.

“I became the rector in 2003. They’d already been discussing a number of different alternatives to move out of Thomas Hall. The university needed more space,” Bradley said.

The main Jesuit residence was moved to 6226 St. Charles Avenue, on the corner of Calhoun Street and St. Charles Avenue. It houses some of the Jesuit community, along with a house located directly behind it. The rest of the community lives in other parts of the Loyola neighborhood.

“I’m the superior of a community that lives in two houses, three apartments, a rectory and two residences, so we’re kind of spread all over,” he said.

For a year after the Jesuit community moved out, Thomas Hall was converted into a residence hall for students, due to the large incoming class in 2005.

“Unfortunately, as the kids were moving in, Katrina hit, so they were out for the semester. When they came back the second semester for spring, they moved into Thomas Hall and then we didn’t need it anymore,” Moss said.

“It’s in need of a renovation desperately, it wasn’t in good shape. It wasn’t certainly an ideal place for the residents. I think they enjoyed it. It worked for one year,” she said.

Anne Longman, finance senior, lived in the building her sophomore year in 2006.

“It was an old building. It had that ‘70s orange carpet and the elevators didn’t work,” she said.

Despite small inconveniences, like being away from the rest of campus, Longman didn’t mind living in the building. All of the rooms were singles, and Longman remembered it as a quiet dormitory.

Now, Thomas Hall is in the beginning stages of renovation. Moss noted, however, that no big changes would be apparent in the near future. The planning may take anywhere from six months to a year.

“It’s going to be quite a while before you can see construction,” she said. “You’re not going to see a shovel any time real soon.”

Masako Hirsch can be reached at [email protected].