Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

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

  • Wold Architects & Engineers Acquires VPS Architecture

    Full-service planning, architecture, and engineering firm Wold Architects & Engineers recently announced that it has acquired VPS Architecture, according to a news release. The move will help strengthen Wold’s education and public-sector design expertise, industries in which both companies have strong pre-existing ties and relationships.

  • From Approval to Opening: Inside Travis Unified School District’s Fast Tracked Campus Expansion

    The Travis Unified School District (TUSD) in northern California includes several elementary and high schools serving over 5,400 students. In 2024, the TUSD Board approved the addition of sixth grade to the Golden West Middle School campus for the 2025–26 school year, setting in motion an accelerated effort to bring new facilities online in less than a year.

  • Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts

    Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • Indiana University Launches Capital Campus in D.C.

    Indiana University recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new IU Capital Campus in Washington, D.C., according to university news. The eight-story facility will provide a central hub for the university’s existing programs and business operations based in D.C., uniting them under one roof and providing the opportunity to expand.