The University of Illinois approached St. John's Catholic Newman Center (SJCNC) in 2003 to buy Newman House (the all-female house owned by SJCNC. As part of their long-range strategic plan, the University wanted the area for a parking lot. The house was sold to University in exchange for cash and additional parking space immediately West of the existing Rectory.

A feasibility study was recommended by the Diocesan Finance Council to determine how to replace the lost revenue from the house. Additional issues that were considered at that time: how to meet the increasing demand for housing at Newman Hall; a State of Illinois mandate that requires Newman Hall to have fire-sprinklers installed by 2013; the need to offer modern style room configurations and amenities in an increasingly competitive college housing market; a severe lack of program space for the Chapel ministry: not enough meeting rooms, not enough study space, no rooms for private spiritual direction, etc.

The study concluded that a .replacement building. for Newman House would not meet the needs of the student population we serve. It was decided that a major addition to Newman Hall on the North parking lot would meet the space needs of our students and satisfy the income needs of the ministry.

A second feasibility study was performed to determine the financial viability of such an expansion. It showed such a project to be profitable and sustainable. A third feasibility study was conducted by Petrus Development to determine the fundraising potential to contribute to the cost of the expansion. That study recommended an $8.5 million capital campaign and determined the SJCNC constituency agreeable to such a campaign.

The project design phase lasted 18 months. Local architect Robert Gruber, of Morehead-Gruber designed the building after meeting for countless hours with students, staff, and alumni to determine what needs existed.

A selective bidding process resulted in River City Construction of East Peoria being chosen as the general contractor.