Christian Brothers University has begun work on an $8 million, three-story building that will be home to the Rosa Deal School of Arts.
The largest of Christian Brothers’ four academic schools, the Rosa Deal School of Arts encompasses degree programs in psychology, history, education, religious studies, philosophy, literature and languages, and visual and performing arts. The building will feature classroom spaces, art studios, academic centers, laboratories and other facilities designed for teaching and learning in the arts and the humanities.
The building will sit on the site of Kenrick Hall, the first building constructed when Christian Brothers relocated to the East Parkway campus in 1939. Construction is expected to be complete by fall 2016.
“We considered renovating it to update for the 21st century classroom but after looking at what it would cost we settled on a whole new project,” said Paul Haught, Vice President for Academics and Student Life at Christian Brothers University. “We’re effectively replacing a building. We’re now able to design for the departments that have been displaced by the demolition but also house other functions that are essential to student learning at CBU.”
Some 30,000 square feet of the roughly 45,000-square-foot building will focus on office and classroom space for the departments.
Over the next year, offices and classrooms for the School of Arts will be spread across campus in various buildings on a temporary basis. Art classes, for example, are in a former dormitory.
The Rosa Deal School of Arts is part of a larger capital campaign called Faith in Progress: The Campaign for Advancing Education.” Of the $70 million goal, about half has been raised so far.
The campaign targets new construction, including the Rosa Deal School of Arts, as well as community outreach projects, faculty development and enhancements, and student success programs.
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