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One Simmons

One Simmons is a strategic reimagining of our campus. This three-phased project enhances the student experience by creating gathering spaces, group study, new classrooms, and ultimately combining our two campuses into one.

Artist rendering of an aerial view of the Simmons campus with the new Living and Learning Center
Artist rendering of an aerial view of the Simmons campus after the completion of the new Living and Learning Center

The One Simmons Vision

The vision for One Simmons is a unified campus that supports our entire academic community, enhances the student experience, and modernizes the living and learning experience for all Simmons students. It is the culmination of a decade of thoughtful and creative planning.

The One Simmons Project

One Simmons is a three-phased strategic construction project that will ultimately combine our two campuses to enhance the student experience through the updating of our academic buildings, the modernization of our science facilities, and the construction of a new Living and Learning Center (LLC) on the main campus.

Phases 1 and 2
Status: Complete

We have opened state-of-the-art, modern library and health science facilities, achieved greater utilization of our academic spaces, created more student facing locations, eliminated significant deferred maintenance, and brought our academic buildings up to current safety and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) code standards.

Phase 3
Status: Scheduled for completion fall of 2026

The final phase of the project, the creation of the Living and Learning Center, is scheduled to be complete in 2026. Plans to further enhance our outdoor spaces, the quad, the labyrinth, and other seating areas are in consideration for the centralized campus as well.

Artist rendering of the Living and Learning Center on the Simmons University campus

The Living and Learning Center

The Living and Learning Center (LLC) will be a vibrant epicenter for the entire Simmons community, providing modern living, athletic/wellness, study, and dining spaces for students and the opportunity for greater connection, wellness experiences, and events.

The Living and Learning Center will have

  • approximately 1,100 student beds (more than the current Residence Campus)
  • a variety of room configurations
  • a 2-level dining facility
  • a 3-level NCAA athletic, wellness and recreation center
  • new spaces for campus resources
  • a green roof-deck with plantings, seating areas, and places for both quiet contemplation, reading, yoga, and other events (things that have historically taken place in the residence campus quad)
  • amazing views of Boston from the event space on the sixteenth floor

The Park Science Building will be demolished in the fall of 2023 and the LLC will break ground in early winter. Currently, the construction timeline allows us to move into the Living and Learning Center in the fall of 2026.

Artist Renderings of the New Space

Take a sneak peak at the plans for the look of the outside and a few of the the interior spaces within the new Living and Learning Center.

Artist rendering of the new Living and Learning Center on the Simmons University campus, viewed from the street side
The Living Learning Center as viewed from the street
Artist rendering of the pool to be built in the new Living and Learning Center on the Simmons University campus
A new pool will be included in the multi-level recreation center
Artist rendering of a person sitting on bleachers overloookin the pool in the new Living and Learning Center on the Simmons University campus
Spectators will be able to watch swimming events from the bleachers
Artist rendering of the new basketball court to be built in the Living and Learning Center on the Simmons University campus
The multi-level recreation center will house new courts and spectator space
Artists rendering of the new fitness center within the Living and Learning Center on the Simmons University campus
The LLC will house a new fitness center

  

A living and learning community

The Living and Learning Center will bring together the best of the college experience: dining, wellness/fitness, gathering spaces, and attractive and safe residence spaces. The LLC will provide a variety of opportunities for wellness, events, community-building, and lasting connections in a space that is more conducive to the needs of today's students. It will offer the type of modern living, athletic, study, and dining spaces that students are seeking, and serve as a welcoming, inclusive, accessible and vibrant epicenter for all members of our Simmons community.

The Student Affairs team is planning for the move to the new building in the fall of 2026. They expect to duplicate the community feel of the current residence campus in the new space in a variety of ways, including

  • theme floors
  • community events within the building
  • student community events in the dining facility
  • and more

The traditional on-campus undergraduate residential experience continues to be central to the Simmons mission. First year students are currently required to live on campus, a policy that will likely continue with the new Living and Learning Center.

Transitioning to the new residential space in the Living and Learning Center

Students will remain in our current residence halls until we take occupancy of the new Living and Learning Center. At that time, all of our undergraduates will start living in the new building.

Alumnae/i returning to campus for future Reunions will stay in the LLC. We can't wait to welcome you to the eighteenth floor for amazing views of Boston, and to hold alumnae/i events on the green roof-deck!

Construction Progress and Timeline

Construction Progress To-Date
Last update: September 15, 2023

  • The site perimeter fencing has been completed and overhead protection has been constructed over the temporary pedestrian walkway on Ave Louis Pasteur and the sidewalks facing the Quad and the School of Management.
  • Pest control and erosion control measures have been established on the site perimeter.
  • Hazardous material abatement is substantially complete.
  • Interior demolition of the Park Science Building is ongoing.
  • Cutting and capping of the existing utilities feeding the Park Science Building are ongoing.

Fall 2023

Park Science Building Demolition

  • Interior Asbestos Abatement and Demolition: to be complete Sep-2023
  • Exterior Façade Demolition: Sep-2023
  • Demolition of Building Structure: Nov-2023
  • Foundation Removal and Site Grading: Nov-2023 to Dec-2023

Other

  • Trade Contractor Procurement: ongoing<.li>
  • Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire Protection (MEPFp) Coordination: ongoing
  • Shop Drawings / Submittals: ongoing
Alums tour new science center, Allegro Photography LLC

The new Lefavour Hall: a state-of-the-art science center and renovated library

The Park Science Center has been replaced by a carefully designed, fully modern science and library building that is now open. The design and project team took great care to ensure that the needs of faculty and students are not only met, but enhanced with this project. We are tremendously excited at what our students are already accomplishing in the new building.

Read about the opening of the new science center

Changes to the current residence campus

Simmons has entered into a 99-year ground lease agreement with development partner Skanska for the residence campus. The University continues to own the land.

Simmons chose Skanska because of the firm's expertise in green building and unique mix of global experience combined with a strong Boston-based team that has significant knowledge of this market. In addition, Skanska has developed a variety of programs and initiatives to further its commitment to women leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Just as important, this project and the mission of Simmons is important to Skanska.

Following the 99-year ground lease term, the land and the development on top of it will revert to Simmons ownership. At that time, the University can decide how best to utilize that location. The development, built by Skanska, will be owned by the University at that time.

Skanksa is planning to create a vibrant mixed-used development that will include 2.3 acres of open space, innovative workspaces, retail, active community amenities, rental housing, exterior and interior open spaces, wider sidewalks, and more bike and streetscape improvements. Many of these spaces will be open to the Simmons community and members of the public.

Demolition of the current residence campus will not begin until late 2026, at the earliest.

Alumnae/i are welcome to visit campus anytime, and can visit the residence campus before it is demolished. There will be opportunities to visit at Reunion.

We are considering a variety of ways to commemorate the residential campus and will share additional updates — including a process for alumnae/i to provide input.

Simmons is leasing this land for a variety of reasons.

  1. One of our many goals for the One Simmons campus redesign is to be fiscally prudent. Utilizing proceeds from a ground lease will help fund the construction of the Living and Learning Center.
  2. While the residential campus is a memorable part of the Simmons experience for many alumnae/i, the space has not felt as accessible for our commuter and graduate students.
  3. The current buildings on the residential campus, which are limited by their structures and age, make it impossible to offer the type of modern living, athletic, study, and dining spaces that students are seeking.