Cabrini University is in the process of conducting two major construction projects on campus. A new parking garage and drop-off point will be available to students in the spring of 2019, while a new dorm will begin to resident-students in the fall semester of 2019. This building process began in June 2018, but the master plan has been in the works for eight years.
Brian Eury, acting president of Cabrini, has played a major part in the planning and process of the construction on campus.
“I am still the vice presidents of external relations and community development and chief of staff,” Eury said. “That role is where the construction comes into play. I was leading the projects.”
According to the Cabrini Master Plan Planning Commissions Presentation provided on cabrini.edu, new the parking structure will accommodate 174 parking spots for students, faculty and staff. The parking garage is set to open for cars in late April or early May, just in time for the class of 2019 commencement.
“Radnor Township municipality, which our campus is in, has a methodology with parking and the number of beds built in a new residential dorm,” Eury said. “Even though not all of our students drive, we had to fall in line with what the township was mandating. That why we have to build a parking structure.”
According to the minutes of a Radnor Township Planning Commission meeting that took place on Sept 5, 2017, a meeting was held on Aug 7, 2017, where neighbors of Cabrini University voiced their concern of the new parking structure. Some worried that the headlights from cars and light from fixtures in the garage would shine into their homes. Over the course of a month, the plans for the parking structure were reoriented to reduces the likely hood of light pollution.
Inclement weather can pose a threat to the development of the project. While the weather has been steady for working conditions so far, the impending winter could be an issue.
“The timelines have gaps embedded in them that we can abide by,” Eury said. “We are worried about the winter, we are worried about the frost. As we get into February and March, the winds and the rains can be an issue.”
Currently, the projects are on track.
Along with construction, Cabrini has closed the roads in front of the Mansion and leading to Grace Hall. This abolishment of roadway access to cars is an effort to make Cabrini a more pedestrian-friendly campus. The commons is the center location of campus, where students can enjoy an open space for activities or relax and do school work.
“Best practices throughout higher education is that when you have a safe pedestrian crossway that opens up the campus to more opportunities for collegiality between staff, employees but also students,” Eury said. “The way that Cabrini is laid out with the Dixon Center at the north end and then all the residential buildings at the south. Ultimately, the center, the core of campus, will be the anchor for the whole institution. Not having cars there will be a big difference.”
The new residence hall is being built on the grounds of the late Lanshe House. Since the dorm is on the west side of campus, it will house upperclassmen. The new facility gives the housing situation flexibility, dependent on the number of on-campus residents.
“It’s definitely juniors and seniors, but there may be some sophomores,” Eury said.
Raechel Aviles, freshman education major, lives in Woodcrest Resident Hall. She explained that the construction usually does not interfere with her daily life on campus.
“If we keep the window open, we hear the noise and lot and dust comes in our room, so we just keep the window closed,” Aviles said.
With phase two of the master plan on target to be finished by summer 2019, the Cabrini community should not expect any construction on campus for a while following its completion.
“In terms of the 24 to 36 months, there will be no construction,” Eury said. “When we have the fundraising in place and we have a critical need to move on it, that’s when phase three will be implemented.”
