Building on our campus, our community, and our commitment
From Humble beginnings in 1963 as a commuter school to our current status as one of New England’s premier Catholic liberal arts universities, Sacred Heart University has never shied away from the challenge to make our institution stronger and more effective, while remaining faithful to our origins and our community. Now, in order to achieve our vision of the University’s future, we are about to embark on the most dramatic transformation our campus and community have ever known.
This critical initiative for the growth and development of Sacred Heart University touches nearly every facet of University life, from the technology we use, to the way we learn and teach, to the campus environment where we learn, worship, and live together. It provides for a significant improvement to the way we use our campus, including a new Chapel, Library, and Humanities Center, all bordering a new “Quad” in the center of campus. And it creates a unique opportunity for members of our community— including parents, alumni, and friends—to contribute in a meaningful way to the future of our institution.
Creating a campus for tomorrow’s students, faculty and community
The most significant elements of the physical campus transformation are the new Library, the new Humanities Center and the new Chapel. These buildings will form a new campus center around the “Quad,” an expanse of grass and pathways connecting the central elements of campus. The design of these new buildings—carried out in partnership with the world-famous architectural firm Sasaki Associates, Inc.—supports our goal of creating a community that encourages active, engaged learning grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition.
Translating a philosophy into architecture
How will we express the personality and beliefs of the SHU community through the various buildings that will spring up on campus in the years to come? It’s a challenge—and an opportunity. In bringing our vision to life, we must create spaces that support our mission as an educational institution and a lasting member of the greater Fairfield community.
Creating new connections—and finding new expressions for our faith
The new campus plan is unique as much for its overall layout as for the individual buildings we will construct. The plan calls for establishing a strong link between the Library and the Humanities Center, facilitating a more open flow of information and encouraging the interaction between individual and classroom learning. And the placement of the new Chapel will ensure that spirituality remains at the center of campus life, acting as a strong visual symbol of the faith that we share as a community and reminding us of our Catholic intellectual tradition.