SANDBURG'S RENOVATED STUDENT CENTER: A HUB FOR CAMPUS LIFE
The newly renovated Student Center, which opened its doors on March 17, 2025, now stands as a vibrant center of the Sandburg main campus, representing one of the most significant transformation projects undertaken in years.
This modern facility houses essential student services including admissions, academic advising, financial aid, tutoring and accessibility support, career counseling and student leadership development, as well as collaborative study rooms and Innkeeper’s Coffee. It's part of an ambitious campus improvement initiative that serves as a blueprint for enhancing student experience and community engagement at Sandburg in the years ahead.
"The Student Center embodies our commitment to putting students first in everything we do," President Dr. Seamus Reilly said. "This center creates an environment where students can access support, connect with peers and engage with faculty in one beautiful, accessible space."
Designed by Farnsworth Group and constructed by River City Construction, this impressive space features floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the interior with natural light, offering panoramic views of the campus interior while serving as a contemporary hub for student life. The center consolidates previously scattered services into a centralized location, creating a seamless experience for both new and returning students.
"What makes this space truly special is how it eliminates barriers between services while creating an inviting atmosphere that students actually want to spend time in," Reilly said. "Whether you're coming to meet with an advisor, study with friends or simply relax between classes, the center welcomes everyone with its open design and comfortable spaces."
About the Science & Technology Center
The multimillion-dollar Science & Technology Center, which broke ground on April 26, 2023, now serves as the crown jewel of the Galesburg campus, representing the most impactful project undertaken since its primary construction in 1969.
This state-of-the-art facility, houses programs for health professions, natural sciences, nursing and dental hygiene, as well as a business center and wellness suite, and it welcomed its first-ever students for the 2024 fall semester. It’s part of an updated campus master plan that serves as a roadmap for improvements and developments on Sandburg’s grounds in the coming years.
“The campus master plan provides the college direction for the immediate future and also allows us to envision the ways in which Sandburg can continue to grow to support our district,” President Dr. Seamus Reilly said. “As Carl Sandburg said, ‘Nothing happens unless first a dream,’ and this plan allows for some immediate response to the critical workforce and economic development needs of our district but also allows us the opportunity to reimagine the campus to prepare for future generations.”
Designed by Farnsworth Group and built by River City Construction, the multi-story, 46,733-square-foot space offers views of Lake Storey on the inside edge of the campus in addition to serving as a modern-age classroom facility. It allows the college to have a centralized location for its Welcome Center and student development offices, making it a one-stop shop for students.
“It has the advantage of really completing all of the main circulation issues (for prospective and current students) as well as centralizing a lot of the functions, and making it a very dramatic and obvious destination point — no matter how you approach campus,” Reilly said.
Discuss naming an interior space in the Science & Technology Center or another campus area.
More campus updates on the horizon
Additional phases for the campus master plan include renovations to update the Student Center, which are underway now, as well as the Charger Center, an athletic and conference center that will vastly expand the athletics capabilities of the campus and allow the community to host events of a grand scale.