Harper College has officially commenced construction on the new 144,000ft² Canning Student Center, designed to centralise student services and support academic programmes.
The facility is positioned at the core of the college's campus and is financially supported by $46.4m in state funding through the Rebuild Illinois initiative plus institutional funds of $55.2m. This investment includes contributions from a 2018 voter-approved referendum.
The Canning Student Center is anticipated to become a vital hub for services such as Admissions Outreach, Access and Disability Services, Academic Advising, the Job Placement Resource Center and the Cultural Center.
It will offer areas for student organisations, programming, dining and personal well-being, including a meditation room. It aims to foster campus life with features like a community staircase to promote social interaction.
Additionally, the centre will house new instructional facilities for Hospitality Management programmes, providing practical training environments such as teaching kitchens and simulated hotel and restaurant settings.
A notable aspect of the facility is the University Center, which will host higher education partners like DePaul University and Southern Illinois University, among others.
It is named after Rita and John Canning, whose significant contributions have been pivotal in realising this project.
The Canning Student Center is scheduled to complete in summer 2027.
Harper College president Dr Avis Proctor said: "The Canning Student Center embodies Harper College’s commitment to fostering student success, building a welcoming and engaged community and creating pathways to opportunity.
“This transformational facility will not only centralise critical services and support, but also provide innovative spaces for learning, student development programming, collaboration and personal growth. We are deeply grateful to the state of Illinois and our community for making this vision a reality and investing in the future of our students and our region."
