St. Ambrose University Breaks Ground on $8M Renovation Project

  • By Matt Jones
  • 10/11/21

St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, announced a renovation project recently that will transform the 105-year-old LeClaire Hall (the second-oldest building on campus) into the Higgins Hall for Innovation and Human-Centered Design. The near-complete interior renovations of the building will start in spring 2022 and are scheduled for completion by fall 2023. The university held a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 7, for the project, which is estimated to cost about $8 million.

The renovation project was jump-started by a significant donation from SAU alumnus and trustee Tom Higgins, class of 1967. The building will feature five modernized classrooms and 20 administrative offices; it will also house the St. Ambrose School of Social Work, the Institute for Person-Centered Care (IPPC) and the Master of Public Health (MPH) program.

“What Tom is envisioning is how we more intentionally provide support services and a holistic experience for students in all disciplines on our campus,” said St. Ambrose President Amy Novak, EdD. “If we’re looking at the future of higher education, it rests with how we know a student best. Can we create a customized experience by recognizing their strengths, where they’re vulnerable, and understanding their learning style? Can we deliver a tailored learning experience?”

Higgins previously donated $1 million to the university for the creation of both the MPH and IPCC programs, both of which debuted in fall 2017. He has also provided funding that allowed the School of Social Work to add a Bachelor of Social Work degree to its repertoire.

According to local news reports, the university partnered with Studio 483 Architects for the new facility’s interior design, and Estes Construction will serve as the lead contractor.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • University of Kentucky Stormwater Harvesting System Receives Award

    The Utilities and Energy Management team from the University of Kentucky recently received a Grand Award at the 2025 Engineering Excellence Awards, according to a university news release. The award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Kentucky was for the university’s Central Utility Plant (CUP) Stormwater Harvesting System, which activated in fall 2023.

  • University of Kansas Opens $400M Football Stadium Reconstruction

    The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., recently announced that the $400-million reconstruction of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium is complete in time for the 2025 football season, according to a news release. The university partnered with Turner Construction Company on the project.

  • California Middle School Completes Two New Academic Buildings

    Sunnyvale Middle School in Sunnyvale, Calif., recently announced that construction is complete on two new classroom buildings of two stories each, according to a district news release. The new wing will house seventh- and eighth-grade students and is part of a larger campus modernization project.

  • KI Launches K–12 Classroom Furniture Giveaway

    Contract furniture company KI recently announced the launch of its fourth-annual Classroom Furniture Giveaway, which awards $50,000 each to four K–12 educators across the U.S., according to a news release. The goal is to address decreasing student engagement and increasing teacher burnout numbers by updating learning spaces to accommodate modern needs.

Digital Edition