Back in the 1990s when it wanted to build a new law school building on the site of a historically designated Orange Unified School District building, the university reached a compromise with the city's preservationists to incorporate the old building's facade into the design of the new 132,000-sf Kennedy Hall law school building.

Now the university has expanded its master plan once again through a fundraising effort called the "Millenium Campaign." Able to reach its preliminary goal of $160 million before the school's 140-year anniversary last month, the board of trustees expanded the campaign to $200 million. The new plan calls for the expansion of the campus to include recently acquired parcels of land, according to published reports, taking it further west. On the drawing board are a new library, sports complex, symphony hall, film and television school building, including a working sound stage, back-lot facility, and an all-faiths chapel.

"When we set out, we planned that we would end our fund-raising journey on the 140th anniversary of Chapman's founding as Hesperian College in 1861," said university president James L. Doti in a published commentary. "Although the plans for what we will ultimately build will naturally continue to evolve, I am confident that the result will truly transform the academic heart of our campus."Construction of a new 300-student residence hall on campus is under way, set to open for occupation for the fall semester 2001. This will be the latest in a series of projects completed in the past few years including the Kennedy Hall law building, Beckman Hall for the Argyros School of Business and Economics, and a 700-space multi-level parking structure.

Along with the University of California, Irvine, as one of the premier universities in Orange County Chapman has garnered the support of major contributors from the commercial real estate industry including Donald Bren, chairman of The Irvine Company, Donald P. Kennedy, chairman of First American Financial Corporation, and George L. Argyros, chairman of Chapman's board of trustees, and chairman of Arnel Development Corp.

Chapman officials are currently working with architects and the city to develop a physical plan for the new library building, which will fit into the scheme laid out in the school's master plan and meet requirements set out by the city planning commission.

Instant Insights /

University Fundraising Campaign Allows for Expansion

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