During the 2025-26 academic year, campus spaces have been renovated and refreshed, changes to several buildings have been announced, and student life across campus has evolved.
Renovations to JFK Auditorium were completed on April 23. SFU President Fr. Malachi Van Tassell is excited about the auditorium’s new look.
“We started the work in November and finished a little bit ahead of schedule,” he said.
“It was long overdue.”
“The Masked Singer,” a Springfest activity held on April 23, was the first event in the newly renovated auditorium. It was hosted by SAO.
While JFK received a refresh, another iconic building at Saint Francis is slated for demolition.
The Southern Allegheny Museum of Art (SAMA)—formerly Doyle Hall—is one of SFU’s oldest buildings. The building, which has been closed for more than a year, is no longer structurally sound.
“We’re going to knock it down,” said Fr. Malachi.
The building is 99 years old. It was com-pleted in 1927 at a cost of $75,000. The 1927 facilty included a 1/17th-of-a-mile indoor running track, a basketball court and seating for 2,000-plus fans.
Doyle Hall served as the home court for the Saint Francis men’s basketball team. Maurice Stokes played on the court that was in this building.
The building’s basement was home to the “Campus Club” beginning in 1946. It was a space where students shot pool and played table tennis and other games. It included a soda bar, pinball machines and a jukebox.
There are four other SAMA museums across the region in Altoona, Johnstown, Bedford and Ligonier. Art that had been on display at the SFU location has been moved to one of these sites.
In addition to the auditorium, another space in the JFK Student Center that will soon look different is the bookstore.
Following graduation, the bookstore space in JFK will transition into a retail store. This store will sell SFU merchandise and apparel, personal supplies and convenience items.
“Sometime this summer, Parkhurst will develop a campus store in that space,” Fr. Malachi said. “We will talk to SGA to figure out what will be in the store.”
The University decided not renew its contract with Barnes & Noble as textbook provider and eCampus has become the school’s textbook vendor. Students and faculty will now order textbooks online through the eCampus platform.
Students recently completed a survey to decide on the new retail store’s name. Results of this survey are expected to be announced soon.
Another campus space that looks different is the University’s former mailroom. The mailroom has moved to the lower level of Raymond Hall and Campus Ministry is expanding into its previous location.
There are plans to landscape the area outside of Campus Ministry as soon as this summer.
Fr. Malachi said that there are also changes coming to the Stokes Center to make it a more useful, recreational space for everyone.
“We are re-envisioning it for all students,” he said.
