Marquette University to Start Construction on New College of Nursing

Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis., recently announced that construction will begin soon on a new home for the College of Nursing, according to university news. The Board of Trustees approved the renovation and expansion of David A. Straz Jr. Hall at its December meeting.

Site fencing on the existing facility is scheduled to start the week of Dec. 19, and the project is scheduled for completion during summer 2024. Interior abatement work will begin in January of next year, and demolition of a portion of the building will take place in February, according to the news release. Faculty and staff are currently in the process of moving into the new Dr. E.J. and Margaret O’Brien Hall so that construction can begin in earnest.

The construction is part of a Campus Master Plan that also includes the renovation and construction of a Wellness + Recreation facility. Funding for the College of Nursing’s new home is coming in part from a $1-million donation from alumni couple Micky and Jennifer Minhas, according to university news dated from May 2022.

“We are planning strategic and careful growth of our undergraduate program to meet the societal need and increase access to a Marquette nurse,” said Dr. Janet Wessel Krejci, College of Nursing dean, in a statement from May 2021. “We are looking forward to a future renovation of Straz Hall. A state-of-the-art facility, including wraparound academic support for students, will take us to the next level and provide a welcoming, inclusive environment for all.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Pitzer College

    Designing for Change in Higher Ed Learning Environments

    Higher education will continue to evolve, and learning environments must evolve with it. By prioritizing adaptable infrastructure, thoughtful reuse, strong energy performance, and wellness-centered design, campuses can create spaces that support learning today while remaining flexible for the future.

  • DFW-Area District Opens New Replacement Middle School

    The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District near Fort Worth, Texas, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new replacement middle school campus, according to a news release. The new facility for Wayside Middle School, originally established in 1964, was built on the site of the former district administration building and funded through Bond Proposition A in 2023.

  • Utah Valley University Opens New Engineering Building

    Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, recently held a grand-opening ceremony for the new Scott M. Smith Engineering Building, according to a news release. The facility is one of the largest engineering buildings in the state at almost 200,000 square feet, and it plays home to the university’s Smith College of Engineering and Technology (SCET).

  • classroom with crystal ball on top of a desk

    Call for Opinions: Spaces4Learning 2026 Predictions for Educational Facilities

    As 2025 winds to a close, the Spaces4Learning staff is asking its readers—school administrators, architects, engineers, facilities managers, builders, superintendents, designers, vendors, and more—to send us their predictions for educational facilities in 2026.