Friday was a big day for Calumet College of St. Joseph (CCSJ). Students, community members, alumni, and board members gathered to celebrate a ground breaking for the college’s first student residence hall. Attendees convened at a barren lot, which was once 2500 New York Ave, to break ground. The student housing will be a three-story, $5 million building that can hold 63 beds and have common spaces for student activity.
The plan for the student residence hall began in 2014, so today was a big step towards making that plan a reality. Calumet College of St. Joseph has had a need for on-campus housing ever since the university started its athletic programs around 20 years ago.
“Because of our athletic programs, we have so many students coming in from different states” said Dionne Jones-Malone, vice president of student engagement and retention at CCSJ. “Plus we have international students as well, and sometimes it can be a challenge for them to find places to stay.”
The excitement for this new residence hall was present in today’s ceremony. Whether from CCSJ President Dr. Amy McCormack’s speech or from the many students and alumni present, one could feel that this was something the college was excited for.
“This housing is just so exciting for us,” said Linda Gajewski, director of public relations and communications at CCSJ. “The students have all expressed a need for it and we think it will not only help the students, but also bring a better sense of community to the college.”
To help make this longstanding dream a reality, Calumet College of St. Joseph partnered with University Housing Solutions to help design and construct the new residence hall. President of University Housing Solution Jim Schmidt attended the groundbreaking to share in the excitement.
“Our company specializes in doing student housing throughout the country, and our company was founded specifically on working with private, Catholic institutions,” said Jim Schmidt. “When we first met Dr. Amy McCormack, we really clicked. This college with the mission and values it stands for is exactly the kind of institution we love to work with.”
The City of Hammond is all-in on supporting Calumet College of St. Joseph in this new project. The City understands that this project is an investment into the community and will only help in the long run. Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott, Jr. was present at the groundbreaking and he spoke as part of the ceremony.
“When Dr. Amy McCormack approached the City of Hammond and said, ‘Hey, we want to do on-campus housing,’ of course the City of Hammond is going to be a partner!” said Mayor McDermott. “A strong college for our city is a stronger Hammond, and it’s a stronger Northwest Indiana. We’re here today to celebrate this $5 million investment in the community.”
To learn more about Calumet College of St. Joseph, visit its website www.ccsj.edu.
