SIOUX CENTER — Dordt University’s campus in Sioux Center is bustling with construction activity, with several building projects ongoing and more planned for the coming months. As spring approaches, the university is actively expanding and upgrading its facilities to meet the growing needs of students and faculty.

The primary project under construction is the $50 million dining commons and B.J. Haan Auditorium expansion. This ambitious project, which broke ground in October 2023, is set to create a two-story structure that will connect the Campus Center with the auditorium. It is one of the largest construction efforts undertaken by the university to date, and according to Fred Verwoerd, the university’s vice president for university operations, it remains on track in terms of both schedule and budget.

"Some of that is the advantage of having a larger, complicated project — you can actually move to different pieces if something is delayed," Verwoerd said, noting the flexibility that larger projects afford.

The new building will feature several key components, including a dining commons, office and classroom spaces, and a recital hall. The dining commons will be a significant upgrade over the existing one, with a spacious seating area for approximately 400 people in the main dining hall. The upper-level banquet hall will accommodate up to 200 people.

“One thing anyone who has eaten in our existing dining hall will notice two things. The serving area is going to be large and open with a lot more variety because we’ll have room to present a wider variety of food. There will be more choices for students. And then the dining hall itself is going to be 30 feet high versus the 10 feet high ceilings we have in the existing one. The openness and expansiveness are going to be the biggest parts that people will notice,” Verwoerd added.

For those who enjoy dining outdoors, the new dining commons will also feature a covered outdoor patio seating area on the south side, allowing people to enjoy their meals when the weather permits.

There are no immediate plans for the current dining commons building, which was built in 1962. As part of the university’s campus master planning process, the fate of this building will be decided in the future, with options ranging from repurposing to demolition.

The upper-level banquet hall will be a flexible space for various events, including university functions and community gatherings. It will include a video wall instead of traditional projectors and screens, enhancing the space’s versatility. “We’re hoping there is community use of this space, that people will feel like they can come in and rent this space and use it,” Verwoerd said, emphasizing the university’s desire to be a good neighbor and partner to the Sioux Center community.

The new recital hall will provide a much-needed venue for smaller performances, catering to events that don’t require the large seating capacity of the main auditorium. The hall will have a capacity of 250 seats and will be designed with an open floor plan that allows flexible seating arrangements. This space is also being outfitted for livestreaming, which will be particularly beneficial for family and friends who cannot attend events in person.

In addition to the dining commons and B.J. Haan Auditorium expansion, the new construction includes 13 offices, three new classrooms, and two classrooms converted from existing space in the auditorium. The expansion will also accommodate more students and faculty, meeting the growing demand for campus space.

Other Campus Upgrades

Several other smaller construction projects are also underway, including the second phase of renovations at the university’s athletic complex. The second phase will involve expanding the athletic facility to provide more space for offices and training areas, reflecting the university’s growing athletic programs.

“That whole complex was designed for a time when we had far fewer athletes than we have now. We are bursting at the seams from an athletic training perspective, so we’re taking the office area in there now and building offices on the south side and converting the inside and redoing all the training area to provide a better experience for our students,” Verwoerd explained.

The university is also planning a third phase of work at the De Witt Gymnasium, which will include an addition to provide new concession space, a new entryway, and additional locker rooms. Notably, this phase will also include the addition of air conditioning.

New Residential Housing for Seniors

Looking ahead, Dordt University is planning to construct a set of cottages for senior students at the corner of Seventh Street Northeast and Fourth Avenue Northeast, pending approval from the Sioux Center City Council. The cottages will provide a more residential style of housing for upperclassmen, with each cottage designed to foster community through shared spaces like a courtyard. The university plans to build seven cottages in total, with four housing six students each and three housing four students each.

Construction on the cottages is slated to begin in spring 2025, with plans to have the buildings ready for occupancy by August of the same year.

As construction continues, Dordt University remains committed to enhancing its campus and creating an environment that supports the academic and personal growth of its students.

Originally reported by Eric Sandbutte in Sioux Center News.