Rockhurst breaks ground today on new academic building

Image courtesy Rockhurst University.

Image courtesy Rockhurst University.

Rockhurst University is breaking ground today on a new academic building.

The University will officially start work on a new 68,000-square-foot academic building, Pedro Arrupe, S.J., Hall, near the site of the new building south of the campus’ signature bell tower at 1:30 p.m. The ceremony will be held in the St. Ignatius Science Center.

Here’s more from the university:

Arrupe Hall will, when completed in fall 2015, house the majority of the University’s undergraduate and graduate-level classes, as well as the McMeel Family Gallery. Named for one of the founders of the Andrews McMeel Universal newspaper syndication company, the gallery will feature signed comic art by artists including Trudeau that expresses the concepts of learning, leadership and service.

Arrupe Hall takes its name from the 28th superior general of the Society of Jesus. It is designed to express the Jesuit core value of “wisdom,” incorporating a commissioned, large-scale artwork by Anne Lindberg that will express the seven pillars of Jesuit education through a series of stone panels.

According to Matt Heinrich, associate vice president for facilities and technology, the building also will showcase the latest educational techniques and technologies, such as interactive screens powered by mobile devices and modular classroom setup options.

“The new building is designed to highlight the principles at the core of a Jesuit education,” Heinrich said. “That includes the learning spaces themselves. The idea behind this entire building is to optimize collaboration and student engagement.”

The building is the result of a $25 million fundraising campaign. The completion of that campaign qualified the University for a $500,000 challenge grant from the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation in Tulsa, Okla. The building was designed by Gould Evans Architects. J.E. Dunn will serve as the general contractor for the project.

Leave a Comment