Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,
Last September, 43rd Ward Alderman Timmy Knudsen announced
his formal support for the athletics practice facility project. We remain grateful for the alderman’s support and appreciate the opportunity provided to have productive conversations with our Lincoln Park neighbors, which resulted in building design changes that will strengthen the project overall.
The alderman’s support was a critical step in the process, and more work remains before we can begin. While we had originally hoped to begin demolition and construction this summer, the City of Chicago has added additional requirements, which we are happy to complete but do extend our timeline. Construction is now expected to begin no earlier than summer 2026 and be completed by fall 2027.
Because the construction timeline has shifted back a year, student leases and housing agreements will be available for the Sheffield Avenue properties for the 2025-26 academic year.
In addition to this news, we are also happy to provide an update on other aspects of the athletics practice facility project.
Fundraising is building momentum
We are pleased to report that the fundraising momentum remains strong for the
Dream Big Campaign. As of this message, $11 million has been raised for the project.
We are confident that the philanthropic support necessary to move forward will continue to accelerate in the months ahead. We are incredibly grateful to those who are already supporting this transformative project. We look forward to sharing additional gift announcements and remain committed to raising the funds needed to break ground on the facility.
Updated design reflects community input
Months of discussion with Alderman Knudsen and the Lincoln Park community, including two town halls hosted at DePaul, led to positive developments for the project. A few of the highlights include:
- Updated facility design to create wider sidewalks and more pedestrian-friendly areas.
- Enhanced architectural details of the façade to better emulate other DePaul buildings and better match the aesthetic of the Lincoln Park neighborhood.
- Added solar panels to the roof of the facility for onsite renewable energy, which will offset 10% of electrical consumption.
- Additional sustainability initiatives include water saving fixtures, bird-friendly glass, and recycling demolition and construction waste. The project will comply fully with the City of Chicago’s Sustainable Development Policy. It also will meet, or exceed, the City of Chicago’s energy code and stormwater ordinances.
In addition, DePaul will
support landmarking of the exteriors of Byrne Hall and Cortelyou Commons. DePaul also commits to preserving O’Connell Hall through maintaining its historic façade and other necessary upgrades. Additional information on the changes and renderings of the new design are available on the
Dream Big Campaign website.
This investment in athletics is being strategically prioritized now to foster long-term financial health for the entire university. As we have seen from peer competitors, athletic success on a national scale has the ability to elevate the university’s brand, reputation, and self-generated revenues. Attributable revenue growth from admissions, philanthropy, and auxiliary revenues will allow DePaul to make future investments in academic and institution-based initiatives.
We will continue to provide updates as they become available.
Go Blue Demons!
Sincerely,
Robert L. Manuel
President
Katie Frauman
Senior Vice President, Advancement and External Relations
DeWayne Peevy
Vice President and Director of Athletics