Newton's Mount Ida College Announces Major Building, Restoration Project

While many students return home or head to full-time jobs this summer, Newton's Mount Ida College will be busy with a $12 million campus renovation and building project. 

In a press release issued Monday, Mount Ida announced it is "undertaking a major facility development and improvement plan" that includes a new student center, a new fitness center, expansion of academic facilities and reconstruction of the school's largest residence hall. 

“Mount Ida is experiencing tremendous growth in its career-focused programs. We are building to meet that demand to provide our students with the best campus facilities possible to match our superb majors and program offerings. When the project is completed this fall, our residential and commuter students like never before will realize a high quality, cutting-edge academic and campus experience,” Mount Ida College President Barry Brown said in the press release.

Construction is scheduled to start in May, the press release said, and most of the work should be finished as students start to arrive in August. 

A list of the planned projects include:

• Renovation of 100-year-old Shaw Hall

• A new student center that will take up all three floors of Carlson Hall. The center will offer multiple dining choices, recreation and study areas, outdoor patio seating, a convenience store and market. This is a first for the Mount Ida campus, the press release said.

• A new student fitness center "with state-of-the-art fitness and weight equipment." This will be an extension of the existing Athletic Center.

• Complete reconstruction of Malloy Hall, the largest residence hall on campus. The renovation will result in new student lounges, study areas and a cafe.

• Expansion of some academic facilities, including the dental hygiene center. According to the press release, this expansion is "to better meet enrollment demand" for the dental hygiene and other science programs.

The building and renovation project, which was recently approved by the school president and Board of Trustees, will be financed through a combination of bond revenue, operating income and gifts, the press release said.

More details are available in the press release included in the .pdf section above.