Oct 13, 2025

Dordt University to dedicate new campus spaces during Defender Days

Dordt University will celebrate the dedication of The Atrium, the Recital Hall, and other new campus facilities on Saturday, October 18, with a ceremony and tours beginning at 10:30 a.m. in The Atrium.

Dordt University invites the community to celebrate the dedication of several new campus spaces on Saturday, October 18, at 10:30 a.m. in The Atrium.

The celebration will highlight The Atrium, Dordt’s new dining and community space, as well as the Recital Hall, a performance venue designed for student recitals, ensemble concerts, and community music events. Following the program, guests will be invited to tour additional recently completed facilities, including the Campus Townhomes, Campus Cottages, and the Spronk Animal Science Education Center.

“These spaces represent more than bricks and mortar,” says Brandon Huisman, vice president for advancement and marketing. “They are places where students gather, grow, and experience the kind of Christ-centered community that defines Dordt.”

The Atrium is designed as a hub of daily life on campus—a place where students eat, study, and connect. “It’s more than a dining hall; it’s a space for friendship, encouragement, and belonging,” notes Robert Taylor, vice president for student success and dean of students.

For the music department, the new recital hall provides a dedicated venue for student performance. “This hall gives students a place to share their gifts and grow in confidence as musicians,” says Dr. Ryan Smit, associate professor of music. “It’s also a space where music will continue to bring beauty, joy, and worship to our community.”

The event program will include remarks from university leaders, faculty, and students, along with a prayer of dedication. Guests are invited to browse the new and renovated facilities immediately following the ceremony.


About Dordt University

As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by U.S. News and World Report, the Wall Street Journal, Times Higher Education, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review.


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