University Breaks Ground on 1144 West Loyola

CONTACT
Gabby Abbott
Media@LUC.edu

CHICAGO—On Friday, May 1, Loyola University Chicago marked a major milestone in its long-term Campus Plan by breaking ground on 1144 West Loyola, a seven-story nursing and sciences education facility on its Lake Shore Campus in Rogers Park.

Nearly 200 University leaders, faculty, staff, students, alumni, philanthropic partners, and community members gathered to celebrate the early stages of construction of the 195,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility, which will bring together programs from the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing and the College of Arts and Sciences in one modern, interactive space. The nearly block-long facility, located on the east side of Sheridan Road between Loyola and Albion Avenues, is slated to be complete 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.

With a focus on active, team-based, and experiential learning spaces—including one of the nation’s largest anatomy simulation labs, advanced chemistry research labs, and community gathering areas—1144 will support the growing 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., in a blessing of the facility. “May all who study, teach, and work here be formed in knowledge, guided by compassion, and dedicated to the service of others.”

The building will also help address the increasing demand for health care and science professionals; the increased space will allow Loyola to grow its undergraduate nursing program from approximately 250 to 400 new students each year, resulting in 150 more future nurses entering the workforce annually.

In keeping with Loyola’s Jesuit mission and the Ignatian value of caring for our common home, the project prioritizes environmental stewardship. Contributing to the building’s planned LEED Gold Certification include: a system that will provide 80 percent of the building’s heating/cooling energy without using fossil fuels, onsite stormwater detention, an extensive modular tray green roof system, bird-safe glass, and a dark-sky compliant exterior lighting system. Additionally, the materials inside the building will have low-global warming potential and low-volatile organic compounds, to prioritize the health of the building’s occupants and environment.

The building is the first visible expression of the University’s commitment under its Campus Plan to elevate and transform student success across campuses. Reed previewed upcoming developments on the Lake Shore Campus, including modernized classrooms, a lakeside welcome center, and the student success center, a centralized facility for academic advising, career services, tutoring, testing, and student engagement.

“Great universities are constantly evolving and changing. Loyola’s 156-year history reflects this,” Reed said. “As today’s stewards, we humbly but confidently build on the legacy and foundation laid by those who have gone before us.”

For more information about campus developments, visit luc.edu/campusplan.

(Header image from left: Senior Vice President and Special Assistant to the President Fr. Thomas W. Neitzke, S.J., College of Arts and Sciences Dean Peter J. Schraeder, Student Body President Boas Gelfand, President Mark C. Reed, 2026 President’s Medallion recipient (Nursing) Arianna Moen, Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing Dean Lorna Finnegan, Provost Douglas W. Woods.)

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About Loyola University Chicago
Founded in 1870, Loyola University Chicago is one of the nation’s largest Jesuit, Catholic universities, recognized for its academic excellence, commitment to community engagement, and leadership in sustainability. A Carnegie R1 research institution, Loyola leverages its status as one of an elite group of universities with the highest level of research activity to advance knowledge that serves communities and creates global impact. With 15 schools, colleges, and institutes—including Business, Law, Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences—Loyola operates three primary campuses in the greater Chicago area and one in Rome, Italy, that provide students a transformative, globally connected learning experience. Consistently ranked among the nation’s top universities by U.S. News & World Report, Loyola is a STARS Platinum-rated institution that is ranked as one of the country’s most sustainable campuses by The Princeton Review and has earned distinctions from AmeriCorps and the Carnegie Foundation for its longstanding record of service and community engagement. Guided by its Jesuit mission and commitment to caring for the whole person, Loyola educates ethical leaders who think critically, act with purpose, and strive to create a more just and sustainable world. Visit Loyola Today to find the latest University news.