Construction Updates
Buildings and facilities reflect ways that an institution responds to the critical needs for teaching, learning, and research; residential life and and student development; administrative and student services; religious and spiritual formation; creative and performing arts; athletics and recreation; and cultural and civic engagement.
The Department of Facilities Management is charged with developing and implementing plans that provide and maintain the physical spaces and resources to enable faculty, students, and staff to advance the mission of Fairfield University. Accordingly, it is essential that we not only plan and add new facilities when needed but also direct resources to maintain and upgrade existing spaces, improve landscaping and wayfinding, repair roads, address deferred maintenance, and more.
Facilities Management and construction crews have been working since early summer 2010 on four major construction projects on campus. Learn more about the completion of the University's ambitious building and renovation plan completed in August 2011.
About the Construction Projects
The most recent chapter of Fairfield's growth occurred in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with the construction and renovation of numerous facilities on campus - the science center, library, business school, athletic facilities, apartment complex, alumni house, and campus center.
Campus growth, however, does not stop entirely between major building campaigns, and over the past few years, we have added the Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J. Center, Early Learning Center, phase one of the campus landscaping plan, and the Fairfield Jesuit Community Center. On a smaller scale, we have renovated spaces for academic centers, improved science labs, and relocated several core student life offices to central locations.
Following are the most recent major construction plans related to residential life and the integration of living and learning.
Student Housing
The University has been evaluating improvements to student housing. During the 2007-08 academic year, the Department of Facilities completed a conceptual plan to address a number of goals and needs. During the 2008-09 year, the University prepared all design documents, budgeting and cost estimating, and secured local and state regulatory approvals. Given the economic climate, construction was postponed in March 2009. During 2010, the projects were approved and construction began on the following residence halls in the spring of 2010:
- 42 Bellarmine Road: The conversion of St. Ignatius Hall into suite-style student housing
- 51 McInnes Road: The construction of a new apartment-style student residence in the Village
- 70 McCormick Road: Construction of a new residence hall in the Quad
- John C. Dolan Hall: Renovation of a traditional residence hall to an apartment-style student residence
These projects allow Fairfield to accomplish several strategic goals. The Quad (70 McCormick Road) and St. Ignatius Hall (42 Bellarmine Road) projects directly address the need for residential environments that relate to our living and learning goals, and all first-year students can be accommodated in the Quad.
The Village and Dolan Hall projects provide additional apartment-style housing options for juniors and seniors.
The overall quality of residential life is enhanced by the elimination or minimization of "triples" for freshmen and overcrowding in the townhouses.
These projects resulted in a net increase of 232 beds for student housing on campus. The modifications to our housing inventory allow us to offer appropriate housing for each of our class years.
Learn more about the completion of the University's ambitious building and renovation plan completed in August 2011.
Related Links
Campus Map l Facilities Management I Public Safety I Residence Life