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Dear Loyola students,

Campus will look a bit different when you return in a few weeks, as construction has begun on the Chapel of St. Ignatius and the Gayle and Tom Benson Jesuit Center. We anticipate the project will be complete in fall 2023, providing a spiritual place at the heart of campus that is open and welcoming to all. We are grateful for this incredible opportunity to beautify our campus and create a new gathering spot for the Loyola community and beyond.

The construction area currently covers green space from the sidewalk alongside Bobet to Monroe Hall. To accommodate the necessary equipment and allow for safety measures, the area currently occupies a far larger space than the completed building will. The finished structure will be a small, light-filled, modern building tucked in close to Monroe Hall, and it will be round to facilitate foot traffic. Most of the quad will be preserved, and native plantings and artwork by local artists will beautify the space.

This location was selected to preserve as much as possible of the sightlines and green space that we grew to love after the old library was demolished. And rest assured that we still have plenty of open space available on campus - the Res Quad, Palm Court, Peace Quad, and Academic Quad are beautifully green and ready for you to enjoy.

We are building this project entirely with donor funds that were given specifically for this purpose, and this purpose alone. The funds cannot be used in any other way. Work on this project has no impact on other projects, such as ongoing maintenance or repairs to the University Sports Complex.

Pile driving began on Monday, August 8, and is currently expected to be completed by the end of the month. After the piles are driven, the noise impact from the construction site will be minimal. Work will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, with some potential Saturdays.

Construction is a common part of campus life at many universities as their campuses evolve to meet their students’ ever-changing needs, and we recognize that this construction project will create some inconvenience. The end result will be a beautiful work of art for all to enjoy, a place of spiritual respite for people of all faiths, and a dedicated gathering space for the university community. And, it will free up the current Chapel of St. Ignatius space in Bobet Hall to be repurposed to serve students and the community in a different way.

We appreciate your patience and good will as we build the Chapel of St. Ignatius and the Gayle and Tom Benson Jesuit Center. We are grateful to the Bensons and other special donors for this wonderful gift and look forward to celebrating its grand opening with you.