Dear Maria Community,
As you may have heard, Maria College is undertaking the next stage of our growth by making significant changes to the campus layout. Far more than just shifting the parking, the campus plan is the result of a years-long process that began with the question: does the current campus space lend itself to a teaching, learning, and educational environment consistent with our Catholic identity and Mercy heritage?
Throughout our planning processes, we sought feedback from students, faculty, staff, and trustees. Through such processes we identified improvements in technology, classroom, and physical space areas as well as opportunities to improve the beauty of the campus. The first stages of this plan were to re-imagine (and outfit) new teaching and learning space in our newly acquired McAuley building. I’m sure you can agree the result of that planning and work has been extremely impressive. The next phase will commence this summer.
This stage will bring some of the most visible changes to campus as we seek to move the vehicle traffic and parking to the perimeter of campus, and incorporate centralized green space through a ‘great lawn’ that will go where the current main parking lot is situated. We are also looking at new designs and architecture for campus spaces like the Pod and the Main Building entryway. The f
inal stage of the Campus Master Plan will focus on teaching and learning spaces in the Main Building.
All of these changes are being made with an eye towards enhancing the student experience.
The planning committees involved in this project are very pleased with the progress to date, and we look forward to sharing additional updates and information with you as this stage gets underway. The construction work will be done in phases to minimize the disruptions.
Here you will find detailed updates, estimated schedules of changes, architectural drawings, and other information. We are also setting up a bulletin board in the Main Building, by the Admissions Office, to showcase the latest information.
Town Hall sessions are being planned and will be announced shortly. Here, you will have the chance to ask questions and get further detail on these upcoming changes. Times and dates for those will be communicated soon. It is my hope that, like the McAuley renovations, when the project is complete we will share a sense of pride and accomplishment at the more beautiful space that better reflects our Mercy heritage of educational excellence here at Maria College.
Thank you,
