New capital improvements make their debut

Whether you turn onto College Avenue from Minnesota Street to get to St. Ben’s or drive up Abbey Road into St. John’s, the street pole banners are impossible to miss. Black and red vertical strips with the combined CSB and SJU logo and “Together We Flourish” in cursive alternating are hung as far as the eye can see.

It’s the start of a new school year on campus, and the second or third question on everyone’s mind is, “What changed over the summer?”

There are 17 new faculty members and a number of different administrators, many of whom The Record will cover over the course of this semester. The organization formerly known as Student Activities, Leadership and Development (SALD) has been renamed as the Center for Student Leadership and Engagement.

But perhaps the most obvious changes are seen in the physical buildings and structures that adorn both campuses. St. Ben’s and St. John’s spent millions of dollars on construction and upgrades, and the fruit of that labor – much of which happened this summer – is showing.

“I’m extremely pleased that we’re moving in the right direction. Anytime that you can make significant building and grounds improvements is a big deal. I’m proud of the team’s accomplishments,” said Russ Klein, physical plant director at St. John’s.

Chief among the improvements that Klien is referring to are the completed Seton Village residential townhomes (known to students as “New Seton”), which added a third section with 48 beds to the space where Metten Court was torn down. The full project, which took two years and nearly $20 million to complete, features living arrangements for up to 144 students.

“These new apartments are a great addition to campus,” SJU senior and New Seton resident Griffin Larson said. “They really bring a sense of community to Flynntown. I’m so glad they got finished in time for my senior year.”

New Seton isn’t the only part of Flynntown that looks different. St. Vincent Court, sometimes called the “Monopoly houses” because of their simple structure and distinctive red and green colors, will be Monopoly no more. Three of the buildings received new white or gray siding, and the other six will get the same treatment within the next couple of years.

Other headline improvements at St. John’s include a new location for the admissions office, which services prospective students for both campuses. Transitioning the space, which sits below the Great Hall, costed $2.7 million. Concessions facilities at Clemens Stadium and Warner Palestra were upgraded to the tune of $1.1 million. New to the Warner Palestra this year is NovaCare Rehabilitation Physical Therapy, which moved from its former location in the basement of Mary Hall.

Over at St. Ben’s, the improvements are focused on function. Nearly $3 million was spent on building and grounds improvements, many of which are directly related to improving the residential experience. The Benedicta Arts Center (BAC) courtyard, once an unkept and underutilized space, has been revitalized, allowing students to sit and study whenever the BAC is open. Later this fall, Lottie Hall and the West Apartments will be the beneficiaries of new laundry facilities. Additionally, Margretta Hall will receive new roofing and Luetmer Hall will get new LED lights.

Lighting appears to be a central theme of the improvements, with a long list of places getting upgrades: inside the Gorecki Conference and Dining Center, and outside alongside walkways around the mall and near Haehn Campus Center, Benedicta Arts Center (BAC) and BAC courtyard.

“We always do a walk at night or at dawn to see how well the campus is lit,” CSB Facilities Operations Manager Briana Wentland said. “Last year, we actually had some students join us that were invited by Residential Life, and it was really good to hear their perspective on the places they walk and if they had concerns.”

Throughout all of these improvements, the student experience has been a central focus, and it looks like student feedback will be valued going forward.

“Maybe I’m opening a can of worms here, but I’m always open to feedback. I do like to hear what the students see or hear about any experiences they have, both positive and negative,” Wentland said.

A full list of improvements can be found online in an article from the colleges published on Aug. 21. Here are the notables:

At St. Ben’s:

• A new shelter and security cameras are being installed at the north entrance.

• More than a dozen automated external defibrillators are being updated across campus.

• HVAC improvements have been completed for chemical storage at the Ardolf Science Center.

• Windows have been replaced in the Henrita Academic Building.

• The CSB greenhouse soon will be relocated and will provide dedicated parking and space for outdoor programming.

At St. John’s:

• St. Patrick Hall features new flooring and interior paint.

• Mary Hall has been reconfigured for a joint CSB and SJU student activities space.

• NovaCare Rehabilitation Physical Therapy has been relocated to Warner Palaestra to be more adjacent to SJU athletics as well as near workout spaces for the general student body.

• Grounds improvements include asphalt resurfacing in the Abbey Church, Flagpole, Mary and Sexton parking lots, new pavers in front of the Great Hall and installation of a pollinator garden in Flynntown.

• The Jon Hassler Sculpture Garden, a joint venture with the Walker Art Center, has been completed. The first work, “Kura: Prophetic Messenger,” was dedicated in 2021 and has been joined by “Grass” and “Goddess” on a five-year lease.

• Windows have been replaced in St. Gregory House.

• LED lighting has been installed in Sexton Arena.

• Collegeville Institute has been renovated to meet provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

• Elevators have been replaced with more modern versions in Sexton Commons and Benet Hall.