Building for the Future

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE Facilities Spotlight

If these walls could talk … They’d speak volumes. They’d raise their voices in support of elevating women, asking tough questions and relentlessly seeking answers. They’d speak of hospitality, justice and the Benedictine values that remain stalwart in the face of generations of change. They’d tell stories of suffrage, of world wars, of technological leaps, and of the threads of humanity that weave through it all. In 1881, the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict laid the first cornerstone for what would become the Main Building. Nearly 140 years later, we can imagine the hope, anticipation and purpose that beat in their hearts. We’d like to think that they would be thrilled at what this space has become – and at what we believe it can be going forward. And what it can be is thanks to the generosity and vision of the sisters who carry the legacy of those first pioneers. In 2015, the monastery agreed to the college’s request to purchase three buildings for use as administrative space. This purchase provided an alternative to building new that was both economical and environmentally friendly. It also made it possible for Saint Ben’s to invest in renovations to the Main Building. These renovations were designed to honor the space’s history while transforming it into the academic center of campus. The renovations were fueled by generous support from donors such as Colleen McCormick Malone ’80 and Mike Malone (SJU ’80), who were impressed with the vision for the space. “When Mary Hinton told us about the process

“There’s a new energy here. The space welcomes active-based pedagogies and facilitates the different ways students want and need to learn today.”

- Academic Dean Barb May

of reevaluating the space needs on campus, the savings realized in that reconfiguration and incorporating the Benedictine space with new space, we knew right away that we liked this plan,” says Colleen. On Oct. 24, 2019, Saint Ben’s President Mary Hinton dedicated the renovated space. Her remarks paid tribute to the building’s legacy and the college’s extraordinary partnership with the monastery. She also spoke of the future, celebrating “all who will learn and be inspired here in the years to come.” Indeed, the Main has inspiration built right into its foundation. All around this newly reimagined building are innovative spaces for learning and connection. Its thoughtful design ensures that “modern technology, materials and energy efficiency don’t mask the beauty of the space; instead, they enhance it,” says President Hinton. The Main Building is now the hub for several departments and includes modern, flexible classrooms; ample office space, student lounges, laboratory space and more. Academic Dean Barb May has already seen firsthand how the space has shifted the dynamic on campus. “There’s a new energy here,” she says. “The space welcomes activebased pedagogies and facilitates the different ways students want and need to learn today.” The creation of a centralized academic hub enables interdisciplinary connections between a number of different departments, including math, computer science, economics, nursing and psychology. This crosspollination amplifies the power and value of a liberal arts environment. “We can’t solve problems without using multiple perspectives, so having a centralized space where faculty and students can share those different perspectives is really important,” says Barb. The Main was built so well that its 140-year history is just the first chapter. Now we’ve laid a solid foundation for the next 140 years, and we can’t wait to see the stories that will be built upon that foundation.