Summer Construction Heats Up Across Saint Mary’s Campus
From academic innovation and historic preservation to key Athletics upgrades, major facilities projects are shaping a stronger future for students and the broader campus community.
While many students, staff, and faculty are away and nearing the end of a well-earned summer break, Saint Mary’s College remains a hub of activity. Elementary and middle schoolers have filled the campus with energy as part of the Creative Camps hosted by the School of Liberal Arts, while maintenance and construction crews prepare for a slate of high-impact building and renovation projects. Together, these efforts reflect the College’s ongoing commitment to student success, academic excellence, and community engagement.
What’s in the works? Here’s a look at some notable facilities projects currently underway or coming up soon:
Nursing Program Facilities: Learning Spaces That Heal
As Saint Mary’s launches its new Nursing program this upcoming fall semester, two essential new learning environments will soon begin to take shape.
On the first floor of Filippi Academic Hall, construction has started on modern classrooms designed for interactive instruction, while another portion of the building will be transformed into a cutting-edge Simulation Lab where students will gain hands-on experience in realistic clinical settings.
The classroom space will include hard surface flooring, new blinds and painting, electrical improvements, IT upgrades, and installation of new equipment. The Simulation Lab will take shape with the transformation of the interior space, starting with upgrades to the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. Improvements will be made to the space’s audio-visual system, with new equipment, walls, and interior surfaces also on the way.
“With the development of these new facilities, Saint Mary’s is advancing a bold vision for nursing education,” says Carol Ann Gittens, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. “The skills lab will offer a flexible, practice-oriented environment where students can build core clinical competencies using industry-standard equipment. In tandem, our new high-fidelity simulation lab will replicate real-world healthcare settings, immersing students in complex, hands-on scenarios that prepare them for the demands of today’s clinical environments. Together, these spaces will empower our students to step confidently into the future of nursing.”
As work on these two facilities takes place, some Nursing students have gotten a head start on their healthcare education by taking core curriculum classes on campus this summer. A Collegiate Seminar course taught by Brother Charles Hilken, FSC ’78 is exclusively comprised of nursing students, while a theology class, Reading the Bible Through the Ages, includes a mix of nursing and non-nursing students.
Baseball Stadium Lighting: A New Era Under the Lights
Soon, state-of-the-art LED lighting will be installed at the Brother Ronald Gallagher Baseball Stadium—illuminating the way for the team’s first-ever night games starting next season. The donor-funded addition will enhance the spectator experience and open new opportunities for community engagement, special events, and expanded practice times.
“The addition of lights to these facilities will allow for evening play, which will improve both our student-athlete and fan experience, along with entertainment for the Town of Moraga,” notes Saint Mary’s Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Mike Matoso in a press release. “We are excited to see our athletes and fans under the lights in the very near future.”
Stadium Clubhouse: A Home for Champions
Construction is expected to start in the coming months on a new Stadium Clubhouse, a facility that will provide dedicated space for Saint Mary’s Rugby program. The Clubhouse will also be used by the Men’s Soccer and Women’s Soccer teams and serve as a gathering space for donors and supporters. Gael Men’s Rugby is a perennial powerhouse and winner of the 2024 National Championship—along with multiple previous national titles.
Designed to foster team culture and pride, the facility will include locker rooms, meeting spaces, and viewing areas overlooking the pitch.
Chapel Stained Glass: Preserving Beauty and History
Visitors to the Chapel will soon notice a refreshed glow: Six of the stained glass windows in this iconic space are being carefully upgraded and restored. This delicate work, much of which is taking place off campus, will help maintain the artistic and spiritual integrity of this sacred space on campus while improving the longevity of the windows.
The Chapel itself is nearing its 100-year anniversary, while the stained glass windows are nearly 90 years old. Eddie Ventura ’20, SMC’s Assistant Director for Liturgy and Faith Formation, points out that it’s reasonable to expect some wear and tear, but safety issues have made refurbishment a top priority.
“While it has stood the test of time for nearly nine decades, the preservation of this hallowed and historic building is critical for the College and its Lasallian Catholic mission,” says Ventura. “The Chapel is the heart of our campus and a beautiful symbol of our identity.”
Ventura says the current work on the Chapel’s stained glass windows, which he hopes will be completed in late September, is just the first phase in what will eventually be a full renovation.
Pub Upgrades: Game-Day Ready
Renovations to the Pub will enhance its comfort and functionality as a social hub on campus. With improved seating, updated fixtures, and better AV capabilities, the refreshed space will be ideal for relaxing with friends—or cheering on the Gaels during televised games.
In addition, adding some extra flavor to campus life, a new 'Taco Tuesday' kicks off in the Pub on August 19.
Campus Beautification and Refresh Projects
In addition to other upgrades, several campus beautification efforts are underway to enhance the look and feel of Saint Mary’s. Mitty Hall and Madigan Gym have received fresh coats of exterior paint and other upgrades, and new flowers and mulching are adding vibrant color and warmth throughout the campus grounds. Outdated and worn patio furniture has been removed to improve aesthetics and usability in key outdoor areas.
At the Soda Center—following a recent electrical fire and related water damage—restoration work includes new carpeting, updated curtains, and the replacement of the chandelier in Claeys Lounge, helping to restore and elevate one of the campus’s most-used gathering spaces.
“I want to extend a big thanks to Facilities and to our beautification task force,” said President Roger Thompson. “Both of those groups have been working to make the campus shine a bit brighter, and all of these projects help to make Saint Mary’s even more wonderful to those of us who are here and keep the campus looking great for our prospective students and their families."
Whether it’s a new learning lab for the Nursing program, a brighter ballfield, or a fresh coat of paint, each of this summer’s projects plays a part in strengthening the Saint Mary’s experience for students, faculty, alumni, and friends alike. Together, they reflect the College’s forward momentum and ensure the campus continues to grow in ways that honor its mission while meeting the needs of a new generation.
