Chicago Construction News staff writer
Loyola University Chicago has marked a key milestone in its long-term Campus Plan with the official groundbreaking of a seven-storey nursing and sciences education building on its Lake Shore Campus in Rogers Park.
Power Construction is serving as the general contractor for the project, overseeing construction of the six-storey academic building that will house nursing, chemistry, forensic science, and related programs.
Nearly 200 university leaders, faculty, students, alumni, donors, and community members gathered to recognize the start of construction on the 195,000-square-foot facility, which will consolidate programs from the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing and the College of Arts and Sciences into a shared, modern learning environment. The building is located on Sheridan Road between Loyola and Albion Avenues and is scheduled for completion in fall 2028.
“1144 West Loyola and projects to follow reflect intentional, mission driven development, using physical space as a strategic tool to advance our Jesuit, Catholic educational mission and provide our faculty, students, and staff with spaces they deserve and in which they will thrive,” said Loyola President Mark C. Reed.
The nearly block-long facility will include active and experiential learning environments such as one of the largest nursing simulation labs in the United States, advanced chemistry research labs, and interdisciplinary collaboration and community spaces. The project is designed to support growth in nursing, chemistry and biochemistry, and forensic science programs.
“May this building serve the noble work of education, discovery, healing, and service,” said Loyola Senior Vice President and Special Assistant to the President Fr. Thomas W. Neitzke, S.J., during a blessing ceremony. “May all who study, teach, and work here be formed in knowledge, guided by compassion, and dedicated to the service of others.”
University officials say the new facility will also help address rising demand for health care and science professionals. Expansion of the nursing program will increase annual undergraduate intake from about 250 to 400 students, producing an estimated 150 additional nursing graduates each year entering the workforce.
The project is also being positioned as a major sustainability investment. Planned environmental features targeting LEED Gold certification include a fossil-fuel-free heating and cooling system supplying about 80 per cent of the building’s energy needs, onsite stormwater detention, a modular green roof, bird-safe glazing, and dark-sky compliant exterior lighting. Interior materials are also being selected for low global warming potential and reduced volatile organic compounds.
The new building represents the first major physical expression of Loyola’s broader Campus Plan, which also outlines future upgrades including modernized classrooms, a lakeside welcome centre, and a centralized student success hub for advising, tutoring, career services, and academic support.
University officials say the developments are intended to reshape the Lake Shore Campus while supporting long-term enrolment growth and student outcomes across disciplines.
