Anyone who has attended a St. John’s seminar knows that the conversations continue beyond the seminar table. They flow onto our benches and into stairwells; they linger in our dorms and in our dining hall; and they are reignited over cups of coffee with a tutor and a nearby chalkboard. Architect Richard Neutra intended for Mellon Hall to meet that need, but it has reached the limits of what it can effectively provide.

Space for small-group gatherings and even one-on-one collaboration is severely limited. The space we do have is structured in a way that makes it inflexible—and ill-suited for any kinds of arts programming.

Because Mellon Hall is such an important part of who we are, and because it provides so much that is important to St. John’s—our Mitchell Gallery, our planetarium and pendulum, our connection with an intellectual giant in modern architecture—we are not replacing Mellon Hall; rather, we are refreshing it, and making it the social hub that Richard Neutra wanted it to be.

With your support for the project, students will have access to:

• outdoor terrace for events
• cozy, comfortable areas for informal gatherings
• black box theater
• music rehearsal room
• flexible spaces for performing arts
• gender-inclusive restrooms
• ADA-compliant accessibility

Gifts from alumni and friends to the Freeing Minds campaign will fund the project in combination with a $5 million matching grant from the Maryland Independent College and University Association (MICUA).

Every four years, schools can apply to MICUA for money to support capital improvements. For example, the last grant St. John’s received went toward the renovation of McDowell Hall. The current grant, however, stipulates that St. John’s raise matching funds to support the project.

Our portion of the match will come from alumni and friends, who support the Freeing Minds campaign, and from bond investors, who will have to be paid back. The more that our alumni and friends invest, the less likely it is that future students will wind up paying the bill.

In keeping with our commitment to investing campaign gifts wisely, these plans are not overly grand. Indeed, our peers might call them modest. Compared with what is taking place on other college campuses, they are.

As a result of the Pritzker Challenge, the Freeing Minds campaign will have an even greater impact on campus life than we imagined. Projects that are now possible include sustainability initiatives and a comprehensive plan to refresh and renew our student housing.

Our vision for environmental sustainability will make St. John’s one of the most eco- friendly campuses in Maryland. Through an anonymous campaign gift, St. John’s has already taken the first step by outfitting Randall Hall with an energy-efficient HVAC system that will cool the dorm rooms with less cost to the budget—and the environment.

We still have more to do, however, particularly for our student housing, which needs to be repaired, refreshed, and brought into line with 21^st-century standards.

The most profound way to leave your mark on the residential student experience is through a gift of support. Please reach out to us at development(at)sjc.edu or visit our contact page. Our development team can share a variety of options that will help you achieve the impact you desire.

You can also make a gift today and see your generosity go to work right away.

Regardless of how you choose to give, the Jay Pritzker Foundation will match every $2 of your gift or pledge with another $1, immediately magnifying your impact on our students.

St. John’s will offer a limited number of opportunities to personalize your gift by naming select areas of the campus, including the lobby and other gathering areas in Mellon Hall.

Such a gift can benefit from a deeper discussion with a member of our development team, who can help you understand what is required and what you can expect.

Please reach out to us at development(at)sjc.edu or visit our contact page. We would love to talk with you.

An anonymous alumni couple funded the new LED lighting and the solar power project with a combined $3.2 million gift to Freeing Minds. Those same two donors also made a gift to outfit the Randall Hall dorms in Annapolis with energy-efficient air conditioning units.

The work that began with their generosity will not end with it. St. John’s intends to lead the way with green initiatives on both of our campuses, and doing so will require continued, generous support from our alumni and friends. When you make a gift in support of these initiatives, the Jay Pritzker Foundation will match every $2 with another $1, magnifying your impact on our students, our campuses, and our planet.

Our plans will transform this building—which will be rechristened the Pritzker Student Center—into the social heart of the Santa Fe campus. Students will enjoy safe, comfortable, flexible, and inspiring spaces that draw them out of their dorms and into conversation with one another.

Everything that makes this building special, from the masterpieces of designer Alexander Girard to our scenic outdoor spaces, will be wonderfully renewed—and joined by new, inviting, and comfortable shared spaces.

Groundbreaking is planned for Summer 2022.

The most straightforward and immediate way to make a difference is through a gift of support for campus improvements. You can make your gift or pledge today, and when you do so, the Jay Pritzker Foundation will match every $2 with an additional $1.

If you prefer to have a conversation about your options, please reach out to us. We can work together to ensure your vision is part of our blueprint for the future.