Plans for new Jesuit residence make room for student housing

Except for special events, the brown building that houses Fairfield’s Jesuit population has become increasingly quiet over the years as the number of Jesuits in the Fairfield community continues to decline.

Since approximately one-third of the Jesuit residence is actually being occupied, the Jesuits, in conjunction with the University, have been working on a plan to build a new Jesuit residence and use this existing building for future student housing.

The plans have been in the works for about two and a half years because members of the Jesuit community are concerned about making sure the new residence upholds certain values, said rector Fr. Walter Conlan. According to him, the building should communicate the values of those who live there.

The values they feel necessary, said Conlan, are that the residence be a place appropriate to the simplicity of a group of vowed religious people, an attractive addition to Fairfield’s beautiful campus and something that will last and be useful to the University for years to come.

The new residence will to be located at the end of the lawn of Bellarmine Hall.

Rather than being a separate entrance, as the residence is now, Conlan said that they “want people to know who we are and where we live,” while still maintaining the privacy of a home.

The Jesuits’ passion and reason to exist has always been for the students, and this way they will be closer to the community, said Conlan. He said he hopes that seeing this project and the importance the Jesuits have in the Fairfield community may attract other Jesuits.

Going along with Fairfield’s effort to go green, the University has been working with builders and architects to use all renewable materials in the building, such as bamboo for the floors, said Conlan.

The Jesuits hope to move in during April 2009, and the current building will then be converted to student housing, according to current plans.

“The University has been absolutely wonderful in this process,” said Conlan, “and it really looks like it is going to be a win-win situation for the Jesuits and the University.”