Dordt University will continue multiple construction projects on campus this spring, including progress on the new dining commons and recital hall, the development of undergraduate cottages, and renovations to the Rozenboom Athletic Center.
Several on-campus construction efforts will continue at Dordt University this spring, including work on the new dining commons and recital hall, the building of undergraduate cottages, and updates to the Rozenboom Athletic Center.
Connecting the Campus Center to the B.J. Haan Auditorium, the new dining hall will hold approximately 400 people for meal service at a time and will be open to students more hours per day than the current facility allows; it will also be more centrally located on campus. The recital hall, with a maximum capacity of 250 people, will include a space where musicians and others will be able to learn, practice, and perform for small audiences.
The dining hall and recital hall are on track to be completed by late summer and mid-fall, respectively.
The dining hall has been constructed and is now mostly enclosed and heated to protect from the winter weather, says Vice President for University Operations Fred Verwoerd. “In the kitchen area, workers are focusing primarily on the inside work, along with laying brick on the outside of the building.”
The next step for the recital hall is to pour a concrete pad; once that is in place, workers will begin putting walls up.
The spring semester is in full swing right now, but once commencement concludes, construction of the dining hall and recital hall will kick into overdrive. “There will be a big push in May and through the summer, once students are no longer on campus,” says Verwoerd.
Another project taking shape this spring is the construction of a set of cottages, a new housing option for upperclassmen. Located on the corner of 7th Street NE and 4th Avenue NE, the cottages are set to be completed by August 2025. The cottages will resemble small houses without garages and should fit well within the local neighborhood.
“We are in the final steps of the design of the cottages, which will largely be built off-site and then brought to campus to be put together—more of a modular style of construction,” says Verwoerd. “Once the weather clears in the spring, we can begin to prep the site and then work to move the buildings.”
In addition to the dining hall, recital hall, and set of cottages, the Rozenboom Athletic Center will continue to undergo updates.
“When our athletic facilities were first built, Dordt had about 300 student-athletes; now, we serve about 700 student-athletes,” says Verwoerd. “There’s a need for expansion in our training room, our athletic offices, and our locker rooms. The timeline for construction is still being finalized, with work beginning either in late spring or early summer this year.”
With the complicated nature of construction projects like these, it can feel chaotic at times, adds Verwoerd. “But things are well-organized and, with our construction partners, all of the details are being managed. We are grateful for the work that has been done to this point, and we look forward to when students will be able to enjoy a good meal and fellowship in the new dining hall, as well as listen to a lovely concert in the recital hall.”
About Dordt University
As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by U.S. News and World Report, the Wall Street Journal, Times Higher Education, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review.
Dr. Scott Culpepper, a history professor at Dordt University, explores family legacy, faith, and spiritual warfare in his debut suspense novel, which follows sisters grappling with their parents’ controversial past in the supernatural investigation world.
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