From new student spaces to revitalized labs and athletic facilities, Dordt is investing in the future. This year’s slate of construction projects—both big and small—is designed to improve student experiences, expand academic opportunities, and prepare the campus for future growth.
One of the most visible changes on campus is the new dining commons, which is on track to be completed by the beginning of the fall semester. Large glass panels now enclose the structure, offering sweeping prairie views from the south side and a striking frame of the Clock Tower on the north.
The upper level will serve as a welcome center for visitors, with comfortable seating areas and panoramic views intended to make a strong first impression.
“There’s a real push right now to finish the interior,” says Fred Verwoerd ('85), vice president for university operations. Crews are busy installing mechanical systems, adding integral kitchen equipment, and putting in tile in the servery for when the space opens in late summer.
Next door, the recital hall is making headway. The building is nearly enclosed, and interior construction has begun. When it opens in mid-fall, the space will serve as a dedicated venue for musical performances, lectures, and other gatherings—offering new opportunities for students and the broader community to engage in the arts.
The Rozenboom Family Athletic Center is receiving key upgrades this summer, including new office spaces, reconfigured locker rooms, and an expansion of the athletic training room. The second of three phases, these enhancements will give Dordt athletes and trainers more space and functionality, supporting the university’s growing athletics programs. The updates are expected to be completed later this fall.
The Nursing Department is expanding its hands-on training facilities. An additional nursing lab—complete with high-fidelity simulation space and updated clinical layouts—will allow students to develop real-world skills in a safe and realistic environment. The space is expected to be ready by August.
Visit campus, and you’ll immediately notice a set of cottages—a new housing option for upperclassmen—located on the corner of 7th Street NE and 4th Avenue NE. Resembling small houses without garages, they are nestled within the local neighborhood. Constructed off-site by Vision Builders, the structures were then brought to campus to be put together in a more modular style of construction. The cottages are set to be completed by August.
The digital media lab is relocating to a new home within the Ribbens Academic Complex. The space will support student work in digital storytelling, video editing, and multimedia content creation.
Another summer project involves adding two new classrooms to the mezzanine level of the B.J. Haan Auditorium and adjacent spaces. This requires fresh lighting, paint, and updated flooring, complete with an open ceiling painted black for a modern, industrial look. With the renovations to the dining commons and recital hall, it’s likely this once quiet spot on campus will get much busier.
Noting that more than 60 Dordt faculty and staff will be relocated temporarily as part of this construction work, Verwoerd says he is grateful for the flexibility of the Dordt community as well as for the hard work of the construction crews who are making these new projects a reality.
These improvements reflect Dordt’s ongoing commitment to learning, hospitality, and community—preparing students not just for the next academic year, but for lives of faithful service in God’s world.
In the fall of 2024, the Theology Department decided to read through Calvin’s Institutes together. “It’s the sort of thing theology people like to do," Bailey says. “And we thought, why don’t we open it up and see if any others would like to read with us?”
Liam Sorensen, a Dordt University senior from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, passed away on Wednesday, June 4. A kinesiology major who was an offensive lineman on the Defenders football team, Liam was known for being kind, caring, and a joy to be around.
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