DePaul Enhances Athletic Practice Facility Design, Sustainability & Streetscape
4/11/2024 3:00:00 PM | ATHLETICS, CHAMPIONSHIP EXPERIENCE
CHICAGO – Over the last several months, DePaul University has been working closely with its Lincoln Park neighbors and community groups to engage in conversations about its plans to build a new practice facility for Blue Demon student-athletes. Based on feedback, the department made certain modifications to the practice facility design and committed to the historical preservation of several iconic buildings on the Lincoln Park campus.
The revised plan was formally presented to DePaul's Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC) on Wednesday, April 10, which included the requested architectural and design changes, several sustainability initiatives including the addition of solar panels on the roof which will reduce energy consumption by 10%, and setbacks in the facility footprint to allow for wider sidewalks with brick paving and enhanced landscaping. The NAC was established by DePaul in the 1980s and is comprised of presidents and representatives of the neighborhood associations surrounding DePaul's Lincoln Park campus. The revisions will be further reviewed with the greater community via a public meeting in the coming weeks.
"The evolution of this project's design and approach illustrates how deeply DePaul values its relationship with our Lincoln Park neighbors and the City of Chicago," said Vice President and Director of Athletics DeWayne Peevy. "We are grateful to the community members who engage in conversations with our university, and we carefully analyze and act on that feedback whenever possible. I'm very proud of the deliberate nature and care everyone from our university community is contributing to this process."
To help offset the necessary loss of buildings on Sheffield Avenue, DePaul will historically preserve and restore several iconic campus buildings to benefit the entire community:
"DePaul University is in a situation where we have to utilize the assets that we have to the highest, best use that makes the long-term health of the university sustainable," said Associate Vice President for Community and Government Relations Peter Coffey. "We understand it's not enough for us to build a great campus, we must help build a great neighborhood, or at least do our part to maintain a great neighborhood, and we try to do that. This one development just doesn't fall neatly into that, so we went back to the drawing board to try to see what other commitments we could make based on the feedback we heard."
As DePaul collectively works to design the institution's future—through the Designing DePaul framework —ambitious philanthropic expansions, such as the campaign to fund this project, are critical.
"Our entire university will benefit from a healthy, vibrant athletics program," said Peevy. "Athletics should be strategically utilized as the university's 'front porch,' using our robust media value to offer prospective students their first glimpse into our extraordinary university nationally. While these projects are certain to drive athletic success, more importantly, they will enhance national visibility, brand awareness, and affinity for DePaul, each in alignment with the university's overall goals to boost enrollment, student success, and philanthropic support."
More information on the project, in addition to an updated frequently asked questions section can be found at DePaulBlueDemons.com/campaign.
The revised plan was formally presented to DePaul's Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC) on Wednesday, April 10, which included the requested architectural and design changes, several sustainability initiatives including the addition of solar panels on the roof which will reduce energy consumption by 10%, and setbacks in the facility footprint to allow for wider sidewalks with brick paving and enhanced landscaping. The NAC was established by DePaul in the 1980s and is comprised of presidents and representatives of the neighborhood associations surrounding DePaul's Lincoln Park campus. The revisions will be further reviewed with the greater community via a public meeting in the coming weeks.
"The evolution of this project's design and approach illustrates how deeply DePaul values its relationship with our Lincoln Park neighbors and the City of Chicago," said Vice President and Director of Athletics DeWayne Peevy. "We are grateful to the community members who engage in conversations with our university, and we carefully analyze and act on that feedback whenever possible. I'm very proud of the deliberate nature and care everyone from our university community is contributing to this process."
To help offset the necessary loss of buildings on Sheffield Avenue, DePaul will historically preserve and restore several iconic campus buildings to benefit the entire community:
- Specifically, DePaul will move forward with the historical landmarking of the Cortelyou Commons façade.
- Additionally, DePaul will work with the Vincentian Congregation of the Mission to explore the landmarking of the jointly owned Byrne Hall building.
- Finally, DePaul will commit to a significant investment in repairing the façade of O'Connell Hall.
"DePaul University is in a situation where we have to utilize the assets that we have to the highest, best use that makes the long-term health of the university sustainable," said Associate Vice President for Community and Government Relations Peter Coffey. "We understand it's not enough for us to build a great campus, we must help build a great neighborhood, or at least do our part to maintain a great neighborhood, and we try to do that. This one development just doesn't fall neatly into that, so we went back to the drawing board to try to see what other commitments we could make based on the feedback we heard."
As DePaul collectively works to design the institution's future—through the Designing DePaul framework —ambitious philanthropic expansions, such as the campaign to fund this project, are critical.
"Our entire university will benefit from a healthy, vibrant athletics program," said Peevy. "Athletics should be strategically utilized as the university's 'front porch,' using our robust media value to offer prospective students their first glimpse into our extraordinary university nationally. While these projects are certain to drive athletic success, more importantly, they will enhance national visibility, brand awareness, and affinity for DePaul, each in alignment with the university's overall goals to boost enrollment, student success, and philanthropic support."
More information on the project, in addition to an updated frequently asked questions section can be found at DePaulBlueDemons.com/campaign.
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