North Central College Secures $10 Million in State Funding for New Parking Pavilion

Ceremonial groundbreaking event to take place on July 26

North Central College’s plans to increase on-campus parking capacity through the construction of a new parking pavilion have been bolstered by a $10 million capital grant from the State of Illinois. The funding was allocated to the College through the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) as part of Governor J.B. Pritzker’s $45 billion Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan that was signed into law in 2019. The bipartisan plan aims to create jobs and improve communities through historic investments in infrastructure and education.

“This project is a win-win for the College and the community,” said North Central College Interim President Donna M. Carroll. “Parking has been a growing need on and around our campus, and the new parking pavilion will be constructed in a manner and at a location to maximize student impact and minimize neighborhood disruption. We are deeply thankful to Governor Pritzker for his leadership of the Rebuild Illinois program and to Senator Laura Ellman for her support of this project, as well as to our neighbors and the City of Naperville for the collaborative spirit that has helped make this vision a reality.”

“My administration’s landmark Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan is leaving no corner of Illinois untouched—modernizing our roads, bridges, transit systems, schools, broadband, and yes, parking pavilions, too,” said Governor Pritzker. “Our latest $10 million investment to build a new parking pavilion at North Central College won’t just provide students with greater access to campus—it will also free up space downtown, allowing Naperville residents to rely on available street parking. This kind of project is exactly what Rebuild Illinois is all about: making people’s lives better and easier up and down the state.”

“I am excited about this project because it is good for Naperville and for North Central College,” said Senator Ellman. “The parking pavilion will help free up scarce street parking near downtown, and students can enjoy designated parking. I am also struck by the hard work and perseverance of commuting students who drive through weather and traffic to arrive on time to class, study sessions, and practice, and then often go on to a job. They are why this project is so important.”

The College will host a groundbreaking event on July 26 at 2:30 p.m. to kick off construction of the parking pavilion. The event will take place in front of New Hall Residence Hall (451 S. Brainard St., Naperville). A reception will follow, and members of the public are invited to attend.

Parking Pavilion Details

The four-story parking pavilion will be located on what was previously the site of the Merner Fieldhouse surface parking lot. It will include a total of 530 parking spaces, adding 427 spaces to the College’s overall parking inventory. The facility, designed by the architectural firm Holabird & Root, will be constructed of stamped brick precast with complementary design elements to those of existing campus facilities south of Chicago Avenue. The top three floors of the pavilion will be allocated to resident-student parking, and the first floor will be open to faculty, staff, commuter, and visitor parking. Given its proximity to the Residence Hall/Recreation Center, Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium, and the Wentz Concert Hall, the pavilion will also improve parking capacity and efficiency during large campus events.

Numerous safety features will be incorporated into the parking pavilion, including a new four-way stop at the Brainard and Highland intersection, LED lighting, interior and exterior cameras, and emergency call boxes. The facility will also include electric vehicle charging stations, ADA accessible parking, and two elevators at the main pedestrian entry and exit locations on the east and west sides of the building.

The College began site preparation in May, and significant construction is planned for July through December. The facility is expected to open for use in January 2024.

More information about the parking pavilion, including facility renderings and a digital site animation, is available at northcentralcollege.edu/north-central-college-parking-pavilion. Neighbors and other members of the public can visit this webpage for ongoing updates on the construction schedule and logistics.