Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Aquinas College Receives Largest Individual Donation in School’s History

  • By Matt Jones
  • 09/15/21

Aquinas College, a private Roman Catholic college in Grand Rapids, Mich., announced this week that it has received its largest single donation ever from an individual, living donor. The $3-million gift from Peter and Carolyn Sturrus of Grand Haven, Mich., comes in support of the college’s new Gold LEED-certified Albertus Magnus Hall of Science. A college news release states that they were drawn to support the project by the opportunity to simultaneously support both science- and faith-based education.

The 15-year expansion of Albertus Magnus Hall added space for programs like biochemistry, molecular biology, data analytics, environmental studies, health science and geospatial technologies. The atrium bridging the renovated parts of the facility and the new addition will be called the Peter and Carolyn Sturrus Atrium.

“Albertus Magnus taught that religion and science are not mutually exclusive. That idea drew us to want to support this space for students in a significant way,” said Peter Sturrus. “Carolyn and I want to see more students have access to a solid, faith-based education. We also believe that our world will continue to be better as we make advances in science and technology. This project brought it together for us.”

The facility’s LEED-Gold certification was earned through a variety of sustainable features, most notably a green roof that can be used as an outdoor classroom space. Others include use of local materials; reusing and repurposing more than three-quarters of the existing building’s structure; upgraded ventilation systems; access to natural light; and low-flush and automatic faucets.

Other new and upgraded features of Albertus Magnus Hall include 15 teaching laboratories, including a nursing simulation and observation space; six dedicated research laboratories; 11 classrooms, 26 offices and eight study and collaborative spaces; and the new home of the Center for Sustainability.

“We are deeply honored and humbled by Peter and Carolyn’s extreme generosity,” said Aquinas President Kevin G. Quinn. “At Aquinas, we believe in the development of the whole person, which resonates with Peter and Carolyn. The new science facility is transforming the way we serve our students. It is a point of pride for all Saints and a symbol of the future of Aquinas College.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • New Arizona Fine Arts School Reaches Construction Milestone

    Construction of the new Hilltop School for the Arts and Theater in Litchfield Park, Ariz., recently hit a significant milestone, according to a news release. The Agua Fria High School District held a beam-signing ceremony to celebrate the building’s topping out, or the placement of its last structural beam.

  • University of Oklahoma Announces New Campus Master Plan

    The University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., recently announced that it will soon launch a new, comprehensive Campus Master Plan to guide the campus’ physical development during the next decade, according to a news release.

  • California School District Completes Elementary School Modernization

    The San Diego Unified School District in San Diego, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting for a whole-site modernization of Pacific Beach Elementary School, according to local news. The school first opened with one building in 1930 and added six more between 1938 and 1957.

  • NWEA Report Recommends K–12 Natural Disaster Recovery Strategies

    The Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), a K–12 assessment and research organization, recently announced the release of a new playbook for schools and communities recovering from extreme weather events, according to a news release.