--- title: Dordt University to hold groundbreaking ceremony for new dining commons and auditorium expansion date: 2023-10-20T08:43:00-05:00 author: Sarah Moss canonical_url: "https://www.dordt.edu/news/dordt-university-to-hold-groundbreaking-ceremony-for-new-dining-commons-and-auditorium-expansion" section: News --- [ View Dordt News](https://www.dordt.edu/news) [Notable](https://www.dordt.edu/news?category=notable) Oct 20, 2023 # Dordt University to hold groundbreaking ceremony for new dining commons and auditorium expansion On Saturday, October 28 at 11 a.m., Dordt University will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the institution’s new dining commons and the B.J. Haan Auditorium expansion. The event will take place between the B.J. Haan Auditorium and the Campus Center. The public is invited to attend the groundbreaking. ![](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/2022-23/News/BJH-West-Addition-view-from-NW-corner-1.png?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=66&h=57&f=webp&c=51556f75&v=c4b17e72899b0cac22005e4b8cce8d38dd2667f808ab88a552ea4ca833f11e4b) ![]()On Saturday, October 28 at 11 a.m., Dordt University will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the institution’s new dining commons and the B.J. Haan Auditorium expansion. The event will take place between the B.J. Haan Auditorium and the Campus Center. The public is invited to attend the groundbreaking. Connecting the Campus Center and the B.J. Haan Auditorium, the new dining commons will hold approximately 400 people for meal service at a time and will be open to students more hours per day than the current facility allows. The new dining commons will be more centrally located on campus, and it will include an outdoor patio space. “Everyone has to make time to eat,” says Robert Taylor. “So much of what makes people interested in sharing their stories with one another and learning from each other happens in informal settings like in a dining hall, so this new space will be especially impactful for students during their time at Dordt.” Dordt also plans to construct a recital hall / band room, a space where musicians and others will be able to learn, practice, and perform for small audiences. This new space would seat up to 250. It is anticipated that both projects will be completed in 2025. **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, Wall Street Journal, Times Higher Education, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review. --- [Previous Article ![](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/2022-23/News/2021-03-23_000813.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=56&h=33&f=webp&c=bb0dbf29&v=7f179b9c9a85e28ca108a21aa4435ae04de0766c44f807dc14dd088d69bbd7c2) Academics Social Work Oct 24, 2023 ## Dordt University and Geneva College launch partner program in social work Dordt University will partner with Geneva College of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, to give students a head start on earning a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. Courses that students take as part of Geneva’s Social Services major may be eligible for credit at Dordt toward an MSW. Read More ](https://www.dordt.edu/news/dordt-university-and-geneva-college-launch-partner-program-in-social-work) [Next Article ![](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/2022-23/News/KarliV.png?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=56&h=33&f=webp&c=a8edf73c&v=15ac0be4743f2e6d6143f84533e58155497748f00d4aa308cf94e86477a03ccb) Music Oct 19, 2023 ## Karli Vreugdenhil to perform violin and organ recital at Dordt University The community is invited to the violin and organ recital of Dordt University senior Karli Vreugdenhil. The free recital will be held on Friday, November 3, at 7:30 p.m. in the B.J. Haan Auditorium. A public reception will follow. Read More ](https://www.dordt.edu/news/karli-vreugdenhil-to-perform-violin-and-organ-recital-at-dordt-university) [ ![]() ## View All Dordt News View News ](https://www.dordt.edu/news) Aug 20 General #### [International Student Orientation ](https://www.dordt.edu/events/international-student-orientation-2026-08-20) Aug 20 Athletics Men's Soccer #### [8/20 8:00 PM Dordt University Men's Soccer at Carroll - Nelson Stadium ](https://www.dordt.edu/events/8-22-100-pm-dordt-university-mens-soccer-at-carroll) Aug 21 Athletics Women's Soccer #### [8/21 Dordt University Women's Soccer at Bethel - Thresher Stadium ](https://www.dordt.edu/events/8-21-dordt-university-womens-soccer-at-bethel) ![A picture of campus behind yellow prairie flowers](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/2021-22/Buildings-and-Campus/2021-09-23_001574-1.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=50&h=50&f=webp&c=3d670641&v=d2bdb7cbdc83e5be46d3a10afe8a1214a0e770536697eb0ddbe29e017d2e9577) <![CDATA[YII-BLOCK-BODY-END]]>