Announcing New Ryan STEM Center

January 21, 2021

Updated February 10, 2021

The Board of Directors has approved the construction of the new Ryan STEM Center at Cretin-Derham Hall. The construction is slated to start this spring so it will be open for student use in the fall of 2021.
 
The Ryan STEM Center, to be located near the Library and Learning Center (LLC) and the Commons, will entail new construction as well as minor renovations in the LLC. The interactive space will be designed to be flexible to allow for project-based learning and hands-on design and construction. As a STEM lab, this space will unite concepts learned in the classroom with practical solutions to tangible problems. The lab will allow for academic courses and co-curricular activities to evolve and adjust instructional methods that leverage critical thinking and real-world applications.
 
The vision for the Ryan STEM Center originated with Ron Ryan ’62, founder of R.J. Ryan Construction. Ryan approached CDH with his desire to impact the study of science and engineering as students prepare for exceptional educational and career paths. 
 
"This STEM Center would not be possible without Ron and Patty Ryan’s significant and generous financial support," said President Frank Miley. "While our commitment to excellence in our science and engineering curriculum has always been a top priority, we had no immediate plans for new construction until Ron Ryan shared his vision with us late in 2020 and ensured that it would happen with his generous financial support."
 
We are currently in the process of finalizing the architectural plan, however our preliminary drawings provide an idea of what our community can expect. Our science, math, technology, and art faculty will be instrumental in planning and equipping this space. We are thrilled to be working once again with Ben Beery ’03 of Wold Architects and Engineers to design the Ryan STEM Center. He was the architect of the Lentsch Family Forum. 
 
"The Ryan STEM Center will certainly become a place for innovation, creative problem-solving, and collaboration," Miley said. "It will enrich math, science, and engineering, and the fine arts curricular and co-curricular opportunities for all students at CDH."

We are very excited about this new project, and will continue to share updates as the plans are finalized.