Community Center and Dining Facility

In the autumn of 2007, 170 new students arrived on campus, and Franklin College welcomed the largest freshman class in its history. This fall we expect an even larger freshman class and a greater percentage of students will be returning. At the beginning of the academic year, many parents travel to campus to help their sons and daughters get settled into their new surroundings and residence halls. On such occasions, it's often necessary to have all of the students together for a meal or presentation, but currently we do not have facilities that can accommodate groups of this size.

A new dining and community center is needed, and plans are underway to enlarge the existing Grotto by adding a second story which would be an open space large enough to accommodate our entire student body for daily meals as well as for special celebrations such as Orientation, Thanksgiving and other holidays. This new facility would be the hub of the Franklin College community—a place where students, professors and staff could meet and extracurricular activities like club meetings, dances, and other events could take place. The vacated first floor would be used to expand the existing art studio.

Community Center and Large Dining Facility: $2,000,000

For more information about the Community Center and Dining Facility, please contact the Office of Advancement.