Many of our campus spaces were given a refreshed look over the summer. From Dominican Hall and our Academic Support Center to new outdoor seating, we are transforming the spaces around campus that make students feel at home. “It’s exciting to see how students are using these enhanced academic, athletic, and social spaces,” shares Dr. Evans. “We are making sure students are comfortable and feel they have a place on campus that gives them a sense of belonging.”
Academic Support Center
Just before summer started, our Academic Support Center transformed into a space for next generation learning. With new furniture and technology, our adult and student tutors are able to help students with their assignments and projects in more collaborative and meaningful ways.
Dominican Hall and Courtyard
One of the most extensive refreshed spaces on campus is Dominican Hall. Home to our business office, campus ministry, and counselors, this quiet corner of campus has become an inviting space for students to study and connect. The hallway outside the boardroom now has seating and tables that small groups can use during lunch and Flex. Modern furniture now updates the walkway, making it a new favorite spot.
Around the corner, our revamped Dominican Lounge is now a space for learning, community, and connection. The Lounge includes new flexible classroom seating, as well as more informal couches and high top tables for students working in small groups. The lounge also includes a new office for Mondo Diaz, Director of Equity and Belonging, with opportunities for students to participate even more actively in community engagement.
Out in the Dominican Courtyard, our students can enjoy the sun and shade in our new Adirondack chairs. Many students are finding this space a peaceful retreat during their Flex period.
Classrooms
Over the summer, our classrooms and meeting spaces were updated to enhance student learning. 170 mobile smartboards are now installed, giving students and faculty groups new tools to easily collaborate, instead of everyone hovering over a single paper or laptop. Our smartboards are also on wheels, which allows students and faculty to move them for interactive activities. And finally, responding to increased temperatures, we installed AC units in our classrooms to ensure a comfortable learning environment for students. Longer term, our campus is investigating new green and sustainable technology to cool our classrooms.
Outdoor Spaces
In alignment with our commitment to kinship with creation, our Creation Care and Facilities teams worked together to remove dying palms and replace them with western redbuds, a California native tree.
The Creation Care Team also worked to rebuild the Living Lab’s arbor - creating a larger teaching space for faculty to use when when bringing the students to the Living Lab.
Students looking for a less crowded space to meet during lunch have enjoyed the new seating areas in front of the Chapel, where Adirondack chairs gathered in circles have become every Dragon’s favorite place to sit and enjoy being with friends.
Grazzini Cafeteria
Serving a community of more than 1200 students and 200 faculty/staff, our cafeteria has also been given modern upgrades, including an updated food service area and three new screens to communicate the weekly menu.
Athletic Facilities
In addition to the significant transformation our campus has already experienced with the 2021 opening of our new Cummins Center for athletics and performing arts, we have also been making steady updates to our Upper and Lower Fields. This summer we installed a new press box overlooking both fields, installed athletic lockers for lacrosse, golf, baseball, and softball players, and aerated the Upper Field’s outfield.
Burke Family Library
Sometimes students need a brain break in a quiet space. Over the summer, the library added a puzzle and games station for students to utilize when they need to take a break from studying or assignments.
These new comfortable, modern, and collaborative spaces are available to our students - as a favorite spot to work on homework, meet with a friend, or take some time to rest before their after school activities. "The transformed spaces at O'Dowd have made the school feel more united,” reflects Associate Student Body leader Athena Velasquez ’25. “The seating area outside is a place where my friends and I can enjoy the sun, and be in each other's presence.”
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