While summer brought a quieter pace to much of the Oak Knoll community, construction crews were hard at work across campus, advancing foundation and utility work for the school’s Second Century campus transformation.

Behind Connelly Hall, crews cleared and excavated the grounds beyond the Aileen Maury Dining Hall, where foundation work for the expansion is progressing, according to Bill Champi, senior project manager with Joseph A. Natoli Construction Corp.

Along with laying the literal foundation for Oak Knoll’s Second Century vision, Natoli and local utility companies have spent much of the summer rerouting existing water, sewer, natural gas, and electrical lines.

Several of those utilities previously ran through the footprint of the Connelly Hall expansion. While water and gas lines have largely been rerouted, the final transition of electrical service is ongoing, Champi explained.

That work will clear the way for crews to complete the remaining foundation work and move into the steel construction phase, expected to begin this fall.

The Connelly Hall expansion will ultimately provide new and renovated academic spaces, an innovation lab, and gathering areas designed to foster connection and collaboration. Future phases of the Second Century vision will include expanded wellness and athletic facilities in Tisdall Hall.

Ground broke on the project in March, with more than 650 members of the Oak Knoll community gathered on campus for an April celebration, including students, faculty, staff, administrators, Board of Trustees members, community partners, and local leaders.

The transformation continues a long history of Oak Knoll adapting its campus to meet the evolving needs of students. Connelly Hall, which opened in 1958, has evolved through several renovations over the decades, including the most recent updates to its science facilities, College Counseling Office, and the senior lounge in 2012, as part of the Inspiring Action campaign, which also included the construction of the Choral Music Room in Grace Hall. Tisdall Hall opened in 1993, allowing the former gymnasium and auditorium in Connelly Hall to become the Mother Campion Center for the Performing Arts.

Today, the Second Century project builds on that legacy, creating spaces designed to support how students will learn, connect, and thrive for generations to come.

Learn more about Oak Knoll’s Second Century campus vision, including the spaces planned throughout the project.

Stay tuned throughout the school year as Oak Knoll and our partners at Natoli take the community behind the scenes with regular video updates as the project takes shape.