Campus Center FAQs

The new Campus Center will be at the heart of campus. It will be laid out along the existing “spine” of the campus, continuing down the North-South corridor of buildings already created by the Fish Athletic Center, Stroud Academic Center, and completing the path to the dorms, Matsumura House, and Cornelia Hall. This location also puts the Campus Center on an East-West path with Lillard Hall and the West Campus buildings. We meant it when we said, “Get Centered;” the building truly will sit at the center of campus and will provide a central meeting location for students to gather. 

A full assessment was conducted to determine the feasibility of renovating the existing footprint of Hayden Library. A number of factors came into play in making the decision to tear down the Hayden Library.

First, the building’s location relative to the flood zone provided limitations pertaining to its current footprint and build, making a rebuild a more sound choice.

Most importantly, the building’s current structure and design results in underutilized space, and limits the ability to construct a comprehensive two-floor layout. This two-floor layout would provide much-needed space to accommodate the required square-footage to achieve everything that is going into the new structure for students and offices. 

These factors led to the decision to construct a much-needed new building.

However, we will not let the Hayden Library go without remembering its place within our history. A nod to the building that stood before it, the old weathervane will return to the roofline of the new Campus Center in a cupola designed to complement the piece. In addition, two large lighting fixtures and wood paneling from the Hayden Library were salvaged and will be used in the second-floor conference room, honoring the historic charm of Tabor’s past. 

This space features gorgeous full-length glass windows throughout the entire building to let in natural light and has patios that face the wooded areas adjacent to Braitmayer Hall. In addition, it is built with the surrounding areas in mind, offering three “faces” that greet visitors regardless of which direction they approach: Stroud Academic Center, Lillard Hall, or Spring Street. Certain areas of the second floor may even have glimpses of our breathtaking waterfront.

Yes! Great care has gone into the design of the space, both inside and out, and is a balance of traditional and modern aesthetics. Tabor Red can be seen in splashes at the modern angled entry points of the building, a color that is prominently featured throughout our campus, nodding to the design of other buildings on campus, like Fish Athletic Center and Stroud Academic Center. The zinc-clad facade matches the stoic and nautical exterior seen on the MANS.

A nod to the building that stood before it, the old weathervane will return to the roofline of the new Campus Center in a cupola designed to complement the piece. In addition, two large lighting fixtures, as well as wood paneling from the Vance Room and Thayer Room, will be salvaged and used in the second-floor conference room, honoring the historic charm of Tabor’s past. 

In a variety of ways! Up until now, Tabor students have not had a central place on campus to relax and unwind. They have been limited to the common areas within their dormitories, the Stroud Academic Center, and Fish Athletic Complex, but none of these spaces have adequately served their needs.

The vision of the Student Center — the lower level of the building — is to bridge the needs of all students, bring our community together in one space, and provide a community space that has been missing. The Student Center is, naturally, focused on student life and will include a coffee-house-style cafe, ample seating (including comfy chairs!), and a fireplace. It’s also space where larger student events can take place, and where organizations and clubs can hold meetings and host small events.

Also housed on this level are the offices and meeting spaces for the Office of Student Life. Deans, Student Activities, DEI, and other student offices will be housed together in one easy-to-access (and see, with glass walls) area, with common meeting spaces and waiting areas, bringing together our students for more collaboration, living, and celebration than ever before. Private meeting spaces are also available on this level, and rooms can be booked by student groups and organizations as needed. A third of day student lockers will be moved to the new Student Center, giving students more choice in where their lockers are located.

We like to say that the Campus Center will take learning to a “higher level.” For one, it’s the second floor of the Campus Center that is devoted to learning, so learning is literally on a higher level. However, we also envision this Higher Learning Center — the second level of the building — as helping us provide a more modernized approach to research, library services, and collaborative learning. As we explore the second floor of the new Campus Center, which is home to the library, ASSIST Center, Tabor Archives, and a large conference room. 

Part of our second level, the Learning Center, ASSIST, has been enhanced in terms of both space and configuration. The new offices and tutoring rooms will provide more locations for peer tutoring and allow our ASSIST faculty to better accommodate personalized learning needs.

The library’s new home will allow for a more modern approach to research and library services through enhanced technology. The new space for the library will provide ample opportunities for both private quiet study and group work. The large conference room located just off the main library area can double as an added classroom, serve as a meeting space for school leadership, students, parents, and other constituents, as well as added a collaborative workspace during evening study halls.

The Campus Center will also be home to the beloved Tabor Archives, which documents the history of our school. As we approach the 150th anniversary, which we will celebrate in 2026-2027, there is nothing more fitting than to dedicate this new space to our archives. Work is being done to create a digital catalog of our archival material, and now we will have a gorgeous new space for our archivist to not only work but also share our materials with students in order to augment learning. The building will also have display cases in order to allow for curated displays to showcase select items. In addition to the Archives’ main space on the second floor, a temperature-controlled storage area will be included in the basement for additional materials.

Yes! The Student Center, the lower level, contains a commercial kitchen that can accommodate functions of up to 150 people, be it the senior dinner, events for alumni, or a seminar. There's even a special screen room ideal for movies and gaming. It's the perfect place to enhance our use of technology and allow us to embrace digital art and learning where students can create, collaborate, and share their work.

We have added two parking spaces to our existing parking lot, with the ability to further enhance the lot to accommodate up to eight more spaces in the future. However, we are more excited about the addition of two charging stations for electric vehicles.

We are looking for donors to help us reach our fundraising goals to ensure that this project reaches completion and meets the full expectations of our community. Gifts of all sizes are welcomed and encouraged. You can use the giving form at the bottom of this page, or you may contact the Advancement Office to make your contribution to the Campus Center or to ask questions about how you can support our campaign.