Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Fairfield Demolishes Alumni Hall to Prep for New Construction

  • By Matt Jones
  • 04/28/21

On Monday, April 26, one of the oldest buildings on the campus of Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn., was demolished to make room for a new construction project in progress. Alumni Hall, a sports arena that played home to the men’s and women’s basketball teams and also served as a concert venue, came down in preparation for a new Arena and Convention Center.

Alumni Hall was built in 1959. The original architect, John Phelan, was present and made one last pass through the hallways alongside other university officials like the University President, Director of Athletics, and the men’s basketball coach. “It’s a little emotional,” he said. “It’s not going to be there anymore.” It was among the first pre-stressed concrete buildings, and according to Fairfield University archives, the 11 pre-cast arches that formed the curved roof set a record at the time.

Construction began this spring on an updated Arena and Convention Center. The arena will hold 3,500 seats (compared to the previous building’s 2,479) and cover 85,000 square feet. It will feature a broadcast and media center, lounge areas, and luxury seating, and it will provide a distinct upgrade to the home-game experience for the school’s basketball fans.

 The new facility comes with a price tag of $45 million and was designed by Centerbrook Architects. It’s scheduled for completion by the end of 2022.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • KWK Architects Announces Full Transition to Lawrence Group Branding

    KWK Architects recently announced that it will complete its transition to the Lawrence Group brand effective July 1, according to a news release. The merger marks the end of a three-year strategic integration process that began in March 2023 to unite the firms.

  • University of Kansas Breaks Ground on Entrepreneurship Hub

    The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new KU Entrepreneurship Hub, according to university news. The Hub is part of the university’s School of Business and will include spaces for experiential learning and programming.

  • UTampa Breaks Ground on STEM Academic Facility

    The University of Tampa in Tampa, Fla., recently broke ground on one of its largest academic facilities ever, according to a news release. The Dickey Science Innovation Center will measure 153,000 square feet and has a scheduled completion date of fall 2028.

  • Arlington High School

    Arlington High School

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. Arlington High School has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Grand Prize award in the category of New Construction.