Plan Commission approves LPO application for Loyola University academic building

The Chicago Plan Commission has approved a Lakefront Protection Ordinance application for a new academic building at Loyola University. Located at 6551 N. Sheridan Rd, the project site is bound by W. Albion Ave to the north, W. Loyola Ave to the south, N. Sheridan Rd to the west and an alley to the east. Campion Hall, a four-story residence hall on the site, will be demolished to make way for the new construction.

Designed by Woodhouse Tinucci Architects, the new academic building will be a six-story, 190,000 square foot building dedicated to nursing, forensic sciences, biochemistry, and chemistry. Students will have access to new classrooms, research space, and laboratory space. 

The building’s design has taken cues from the Loyola campus, cladding the structure with red brick and punched windows into labs and classrooms and more glass in collaboration spaces and the interior atrium. The northeast corner of the building uses more glass to take advantage of views of Lake Michigan.

 The building’s main entry will be from the southwest corner of the site with a secondary entrance at the northwest side. A large entry forum and atrium will face south with collaboration space looking south. Classrooms and lab space will occupy the majority of the ground floor with mechanical and support spaces at the back along the alley. Upper floors will include more laboratory and classroom spaces.

With the LPO application approved by the Chicago Plan Commission, Loyola can continue moving forward with the $250 million project. Demolition of Campion Hall is currently getting started and new construction is expected to begin this Winter 2025. The building is expected to open in July 2028 in time for the Fall 2028 semester.