Benedictine College’s Summer Transformation

College Adds New Dining Hall, Dorms, Clock Tower and More

Friday, August 01, 2014

Benedictine College students will find their campus transformed when they return this August. It is all a part of Benedictine 2020: A Vision for Greatness, Benedictine College’s bold, innovative plan to build one of America’s Great Catholic Colleges.

Center Campus

Students will be greeted by several projects in the heart of campus.


Our Lady of Guadalupe Residence Hall

Benedictine College has opened 11 new residence halls since the year 2000. Our Lady of Guadalupe Hall is a 30,000 square foot, four-story facility that adds 120 beds for women. Each floor and each room will carry a unique Marian theme. The outside of the building features 12 stars to represent Mary’s crown as described in the Book of Revelation, Chapter 12. Inside, the building features a one-of-a-kind Ash wood statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe donated to the college by President Stephen D. and Amy Minnis.
 

Dining Hall

Students will notice the new Dining Hall in the middle of campus. The Dining Hall is transformed inside and out, and expanded to 850 seats. The Dining hall entry is now an indoor hallway, and the “food court” layout will allow students more options, including the Mongolian Grill concept and other stations.


Clock Tower

Thanks to the generosity of Bob and Janet Wholey and their family, the Dining Hall exterior will feature a clock tower, featuring four clock faces visible from the north, south, east and west. The tower was dedicated to St. John XXIII on the day of his canonization.
 

Student Success Center

The Student Success Center’s new location will be adjacent to the Dining Hall. The Center is a key part of Benedictine College’s student-centered mission, providing career development, academic services and graduate school support.
 

St. Juan Diego Chapel.  Msgr. Eduardo Chávez Sánchez will be on hand to dedicate Benedictine College’s newest chapel, located in Guadalupe Hall, named for St. Juan Diego, who saw Our Lady of Guadalupe. Chavez was postulator for the cause of St. Juan Diego, who was canonized on July 31, 2002.
 

Mary’s Garden

Benedictine College’s newest park will be built to the west of Guadalupe Hall, just north of the soccer field.  Mary’s Garden will feature a fountain and plants named for or associated with devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The park will feature benches where students can enjoy the juniper, roses, irises, periwinkle and other greenery.


Wangari Maathai Statue

Students will pass a new statue of the late Dr. Wangari Maathai along the entryway to campus. Maathai is the only graduate of a U.S. Catholic college to win a Nobel Peace Prize. Maathai, the founder of the Greenbelt Movement in Kenya, would have celebrated her 50-year reunion this summer. Her classmates helped fund the statue and unveiled it in June.

 

Mound Street

Students will find further changes in the Southern part of campus, along Mound Street.


Lemke Hall

A new residence hall named for Father Henry Lemke, a founder of Benedictine College, is set to open this fall. Lemke Hall is one of the 11 new residence halls to open since the year 2000. Lemke Hall is a new addition to the Legacy Apartment complex, adding another 96 beds for junior and senior men.
 

New Parking

Two new parking lots will be added to campus. A new parking lot where the baseball field used to be will offer 214 new spots and a new lot next to Lemke Hall will offer 40 additional parking spaces. Benedictine College issues about 900 free parking permits per year and will now provide 1,440 parking spots for visitors, faculty, students and staff. 

Asher Sports Complex

Work will continue this Fall on the Asher Sports complex north of the football field.

Olsen Baseball Stadium and Raven Softball Stadium

Olsen Baseball Stadium, which Michael and Marlys Haverty funded and named after Marlys’ father, Kenneth Olsen, will be a 300-seat facility with a turfed infield and new scoreboard. The Raven softball field will be built as a 150-200 seat venue with a restroom and a new scoreboard.

Location