Assumption College Continues to Grow
—Phase Two of Construction has begun...
Worcester, MA—When the Board of Trustees at Assumption College approved an increase in undergraduate enrollment from 1,850 to 2,150 as part of its strategic plan to position the College for the next decade, it also recognized the need for additional faculty and facilities. To meet these facility needs on the 175-acre campus, Assumption is committing to a $40 million build out of its physical plant.

Last summer, Phase One of the expansion plan included the construction of two new suite-style residence halls, accommodating 100 students each; seven new classrooms and art studios added to the Laska gymnasium building; a renovation of the Hagan Campus Center that included a modern cafˇ, "Charlie's" and social gathering space; renovations to both Bishop Wright Wing of Taylor Hall to house Institutional Advancement and Armanet House to better accommodate Student Health Services.

Without skipping a beat, Phase Two is now underway. Construction has begun on yet another 34,000 square foot residence hall, accommodating 130 students. Each four-student suite will combine two bedrooms and a shared bathroom. Common areas will include lounges, study rooms and laundry facility. Cutler Associates is handling the design and construction. The residence hall is expected to be completed late August, 2001.

With growing technology needs, the College is also constructing a new computer center as a 17,000 square foot addition to Fuller Hall. Janovsky/Hurley Architects, Inc. of Lexington has designed the addition to include labs, office space and classrooms. F.W. Madigan Co., Inc. will be the contractor. The computer center is expected to be completed in December, 2001.

In an attempt to address a very tight parking situation, the Board of Trustees has also approved the construction of two parking decks. The first, to be located in the northwest corner of the campus, will provide spaces for resident students. The second will be located on the lower end of campus on what is known as Chapel Road and will accommodate visitors to both La Maison Francaise and the planned science building, now in the design stages. Currently in the planning stage, RW Granger & Sons, Inc., contractor for the two parking decks, anticipates a net increase of 325 parking spaces.

Phase Three of its strategic positioning will be the new science and technology building which will house the natural sciences, the University Transportation Center (UTC), and demonstration space for teaching science, which available to the Assumption Education Department and their K-12 partners. Federal funding for the science and technology building has been ably assisted by Congressman James P. McGovern, Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry as well as the U.S. Department of Transportation. Einhorn Yaffee Prescott Architecture & Engineering, P.C. of Boston is the designer. Construction is expected to begin in the Spring of 2002.

Dr. Thomas Plough, President, stated that "we are very excited about this major improvement in our facilities portfolio in the context that appropriate brick and mortar is important because it facilitates the real mission of the College which is embodied in, transmitted and modeled through the relationships of faculty, students and staff both in and out of our classrooms. That is why we are also adding faculty and staff and programming funds, to sustain the low student to faculty ratio and small class sizes that characterize Assumption College."

For more information, please contact the Office of Public Affairs at (508) 767-7173.