An Update on Fernandez-Duminuco Hall

As Xavier prepares to usher in its 170th school year, the finishing touches are being put on its first campus expansion in more than a century.

Fernandez-Duminuco Hall is a six-story, 31,000 square foot space that will add 11 new classrooms, a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) lab, ultramodern music facilities, a recording studio, a student project space, and a flexible, multi-use space that will host theatre productions, major assemblies, and more. Construction in New York is never an easy task, but the result of this monumental project is a state-of-the-art educational building that will transform a Xavier education for generations to come.

“We’re busy now making sure the space is ready to welcome students and teachers,” said James Cappabianca ’05, Special Assistant to the President and Executive Vice President, who has worked closely with President Jack Raslowsky on planning and implementing initiatives for Fernandez-Duminuco Hall. The student project space, which features an LCD screen and collaborative desks that will strengthen the work of student activities and clubs, is almost complete. Tables and collaborative desks have also arrived in the STEAM lab, where wiring and custom-imaging of computers is currently being done.

In the impressive multi-use space, the installation of custom theatre curtains on rotating tracks is underway as acoustical treatment of the room and the building of a stage is finalized. On the music floor, music stands are now in, and wiring in the recording areas is nearing completion. Graphic design work is also nearing completion throughout the building, making it a truly personalized space that tells the story of Xavier’s history and mission.

In classrooms—the heart of Fernandez-Duminuco Hall—furniture has been placed, and Xavier’s deans are working closely with faculty to get our teachers ready to move into a spectacular new space.

“Fernandez-Duminuco Hall will allow us to deliver our mission in new and exciting ways,” President Jack Raslowsky wrote to teachers and staff on June 30, the day Xavier took title to 35 West 15th Street. “It will present new opportunities to celebrate the arts, explore and use technology, enhance teaching and learning across the disciplines, better use existing space, and reach out and engage the larger community. And it will, I hope, serve as a clear reminder to all that Xavier is a dynamic, exciting institution well-loved and well-cared for by faculty, alumni, and families throughout the generations.”