After a sharp decline in enrollment in 2006 and 2007 due to Hurricane Katrina, the same storm has created the perfect circumstances to make changes to the school’s appearance.
Loyola officials recently drafted a “Space Needs Summary.”, This project intends to improve the school by examining how buildings are being used and how to develop the campus in the future. One of the main purposes is to bring more students into Loyola. It also aims to retain students, update facilities, build≠ graduate professional programs, retain and hire faculty, and make the campus more appealing while being eco-friendly.
“A consultants group we had came up with this idea, and Henry Muñoz, who runs an architectural firm, created the master plan,” said Edward Kvet, provost and vice president of academic affairs.
Loyola hired the consultants group last year to do more in-depth planning before beginning this project.
Officials hope that a bigger school will make room for more students. Kvet said they hope to have 850 new freshmen next year and retain 86 percent of students.
While there are no details on how much this will cost, the project will be funded though bonds, fundraising and money generated by the residence halls. This has not yet received the green light from the Board of Trustees, but when it does, the project will be a long-term process, Kvet said.
“We’re pretty serious about going forward with this plan,” he said. “But, first it has to be approved by the Board of Trustees.”
Officials haven’t developed a project timeline yet, but do acknowledge that it will be a long-term process.
“I might not be here to see it,” Kvet said. “Maybe your kids, if they decide to come here.”
The plan aims to renovate Thomas Hall before doing anything else. Once renovated, this building will house the offices of Admissions and Enrollment, Scholarships and Financial Aid, Student Services, Student Finance and the Bursar. As of now, these offices are located in Marquette Hall.
Other buildings will be renovated as well. Monroe Hall will be renovated and expanded. According to the “Space Needs Summary” they will add two floors, repaint it and improve the heating, ventilation and air conditioning. They will also add two floors, which according to the plan, “would solve the space needs through 2020.” It will also serve as the new home for Visual Arts, Theater Arts and Dance, as well as the current departments.
A hike in incoming freshman classes has led to a domino effect, creating a need for a new residence hall and student center. The plan states, “the new residence hall and student center will occupy part of the Peace Quad and part of the current location of the Danna Center.”
Cabra Hall will also be renovated. Cabra, however, poses a problem since there are restrictions suggesting the importance of preserving its architectural integrity. It also states it can’t be demolished due to its location and specific codes. Two floors will be added to West Road Garage, adding 236 new parking spaces.
The committee will begin to plan ways to use and renovate space in the Communications/Music Complex to deal with programmatic and sound isolation issues. They will also evaluate the space that will become available once Theater Arts and Dance has relocated to Monroe Hall.
The classrooms in Bobet and Marquette halls will be on the first two floors and the offices will then be moved to the upper floors.
Monroe Library will be expanded and take up the extra space that will become available, should they decide to renovate the College of Business, which the Board of Trustees recommended, as well as to provide more space.
The plan for the College of Business is to “reallocate space from the library to address immediate and projected space needs,” the plan reads.
As of now, there aren’t any plans to work on Stallings Hall, but there is a plan in place should they change their minds, calling for “demolition,” so that other things can be built.
The old library will, after much thought, become a Jesuit Center. They considered using the building to house the Theater Arts, Visual Arts and a cultural center with an art gallery. But instead, the Jesuit Center will be composed of the relocated chapel, classrooms and offices for the service and ministry programs.
As for the Broadway Campus, the only thing mentioned is that they should use the empty space as well as any space that may become available there.
The only building spared from the plans is Mercy Hall.
Renovate Thomas Hall
Officials plan to renovate Thomas Hall and to move in the existing offices of Admissions and Enrollment, Scholarships and Financial Aid, Student Services, Student Finance,and the Bursar, which are currently located in Marquette Hall.
Renovate Monroe Hall and add two floors
The next step would be to renovate and expand Monroe Hall. The building is zoned and structured for two additional floors, and officials say it is in desperate need of a new skin, HVAC, heating, veintilating and air conditioning, and an interior makeover. The renovated Monroe Hall will house existing programs in mathematics and the sciences and will become the new home for Visual Arts and Theater Arts and Dance.
Construct a new residence hall and student center
Officials say construction should begin on a new residence hall and student center in the place of the Danna Center concurrently with the renovation of Monroe Hall. “Currently there is an overabundance of non-desirable space in the basement of the Danna Center,” they said. They also mentioned there were exit safety issues with egress. The new residence hall and student center will occupy part of the Peace Quad and part of the current location of the Danna Center. This may be accomplished while fundamentally maintaining the kitchen and student life operations.
Add two floors to West Road Garage
Concurrent with any new construction, officials plan to add two floors to West Road Garage to add 236 new parking spaces to meet zoning requirements.
Communications/Music Complex plans pending
Officials still want to make plans to “address immediate programmatic and sound isolation issues,” as well as space that may become available after the Theatre Arts and Dance department moves to Monroe Hall.
Renovate the old library
Officials plan to build a Jesuit Center, which would house the relocated chapel, classrooms and offices associated with service and ministry programs. “As the old library is located in the center of campus and the crossroads of campus pedestrian circulation, a Jesuit Center could physically manifest core Jesuit values and mission,” they said.
Renovate Cabra Hall
“Cabra Hall is in dire need of attention,” they said. It’s possible that officials may choose to preserve it because of its architectural integrity, and they said its location and code prevents them from demolishing it.
Renovate Marquette and Bobet halls
They plan to place classrooms on the first two floors and moving offices to the upper floors.
Monroe Library
The Board of Trustees recommended expanding the libary on the northeast side to provide additional space and potentially relocate the College of Business.
College of Business Reclamation of Space
The board also recommended the College of Business be renovated within its existing space and reallocate space from the library.
Utilize Stallings Hall
Officials plan to use Stallings Hall as it is for now. However, “future planning should include demolition so the prime real estate can be reclaimed to meet future space needs.”
