SYLVANIA, OH (Toledo News Now) - As part of Lourdes University's master plan, the institution has accumulated 10 acres over the past six years, including the former bus property off Brint and McCord roads. After working with Sylvania city administration to have the planned development approved, Lourdes broke ground on the first phase of its mid-campus expansion Tuesday.
The university has budgeted around $2 million for this phase, which will create a park-like setting in the space connecting Lourdes' main historic campus with its student housing, and includes an admissions house, pathway completion and greening of space.
Lourdes will renovate 6737 Convent Boulevard to transform the building into a viable admissions house.
Refurbishments include extensive interior and exterior redesign to bring the complex within Americans with Disabilities standards, including entrance ramps, a new deck and flooring, plus an addition allowing the institution to create more offices. This project is expected to be completed by February 2014.
The grounds of Lourdes' mid-campus will be given a complete overhaul, including new landscaping, fencing, utilities relocated, and most importantly, a paved pathway connecting the main campus to Lourdes Commons. Two homes off Convent will be removed in order to make way for added green space, parking and the walking pathway. This project is expected to be completed by August 2014.
"We are very excited to begin work in making this area a beautiful and useable space for both our Lourdes University students and the greater Sylvania community. Residents already enjoy the park-like atmosphere on Lourdes' main campus and often walk the grounds. The construction of our mid-campus pathway will provide even more walkable green space for those in the area," said David Livingston, PhD, president of Lourdes University.
Livingston says the key is to allow students to walk to and from campus.
"For all of our students, whether they're residential or not, having a park-like setting that connects these campuses, and adds to our overall acreage, is very significant. It's also laying the groundwork for our future rec center, which is very important to us," explained Livingston.
Rooted in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, Lourdes University offers baccalaureate degrees in more than 30 academic majors, as well as graduate degrees in business, education, liberal studies, nursing, organizational leadership, and theology. Community outreach programs include the Appold Planetarium, Center for Science Education & the Environment, along with Lifelong Learning. A member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, Lourdes students can also compete in a variety of men's and women's sports. Named a "Best in the Midwest" college by the Princeton Review, Lourdes University is a nationally accredited, veteran and transfer-friendly institution offering a variety of student scholarships.
