Suburban Chicago college breaks ground on aviation-themed student center

Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill., is best known for its collegiate aviation program. It makes sense, then, that the planned 25,500-sf student center is designed to pay homage to the university’s heritage in aviation and aeronautics.

Some of the key elements of the structure include a 2.5-story glass atrium, dining hall, several outdoor terraces, and student life areas for gaming, recreation, media, and club activities. Perhaps the most unique aspect of the project, which was designed by Wight & Company, will be a vintage plane suspended by cables in the building’s atrium.

Enrollment at Lewis University has been steadily growing over the past decade, which has led to a large number of construction and renovation projects on the campus. Wight & Company was the architect for many of these projects.

The building will be Lewis University’s first-ever dedicated student center and will cater to both commuter and residential students. The school has announced its plan to name the center for its recently retired president Brother James Gaffney, FSC.

The project has just recently broken ground and is expected to be completed in August 2018.