While the various large-scale construction sites housing bobcats, cranes and other heavy machinery throughout Loyola’s campus may be an eyesore and even discourage prospective students from visiting, the end product is expected to attract thousands.
These construction projects are a part of Phase I of the university’s strategic plan to improve student retention rates, enhance education and enhance its Jesuit values.
Phase I includes innovations to Thomas Hall and the Dominican Conference Center, a two-floor addition to West Road Garage and improvements to Loyola’s infrastructure, which are all underway.
“It might be a headache and not that nice to look at right now, but it’s working toward a goal of improving the campus,” Meredith Hartley, director of public affairs and external relations, said. “It is a part of our progress.”
The $35 million price tag for Phase I of construction is the largest amount of money Loyola has invested in renovations to campus in the past 10 years. Since 1999, $32 million has been used to construct the J. Edgar and Louise S. Monroe Library and Carrollton Hall.
Thomas Hall, the former home of the Jesuits, will be completely gutted and serve as the new administrative building.
Once it is refurbished, the administrative offices, admissions, financial aid, bursar, student records and student finance in Marquette Hall move in. The remaining space in Marquette will be turned into classrooms.
Changes to the West Road Garage will provide another 236 parking spaces on two additional floors. The projected completion date is April 2011.
According to Paul Fleming, Physical Plant Assistant Vice President For Administration, approximately 180 parking spaces are currently not usable due to construction.
Another part of Phase I includes the Dominican Conference Center on the Broadway campus. Renovations on the center will make it a new home for offices in the College of Law.
According to the Rev. Kevin Wildes S.J, the university’s president, all Phase I projects are scheduled to be completed by June 2011. Fleming said all deadlines are only estimates. “Weather and various circumstances may affect work,” said Fleming.
Director of Facilities Systems, Charles Marshall, credits Wildes as being the driving force to the construction overhaul.
“Everything that is going on was spurred by the development of the new master plan, which was instituted by Father Wildes,” Marshall said.
While Phase I construction is still underway, the university is already moving into the planning stage for Phase II.
Major plans include renovations on Monroe Hall and demolition of the Danna Student Center. The proposal for the phase II is in development and will be presented to the University’s Board of Trustees May 2011.
The Danna Student Center will be demolished to make way for a new student center and residence hall.
The university has hired architecture firms Kell-Munoz of San Antonio and Mathes Brierre of New Orleans to design the project.
In a press release, Wildes said, “We believe these improvements will enable the university to better fulfill its Jesuit mission to educate the whole person by increasing our residential population.”
The estimated cost of phase II is $75 million. The university is able to fund projects through the use of state bonds which is approved by the Board of Trustees.
In the final campus remodeling, Phase III plans include finishing Monroe Hall and modernizing Loyola’s Sport Complex.
Monica Vo can be reached at [email protected]
