Hope College | Campus Development

The college is committed to providing facilities that offer outstanding support for the learning, teaching and research that take place on campus.

In recent years, a variety of construction and renovation projects have added new buildings or enhanced some of the campus’s most historic structures and features.

Van Andel Soccer Stadium
Hope soccer players are playing in a new state-of-the-art facility.

The Van Andel Soccer Stadium includes stadium-style and bleacher seats for 1,400 fans, locker rooms for Hope’s teams, and other amenities such as a press box, training room, concession stand and terrace areas for picnics and tailgating. The playing surface is an artificial turf, and the stadium has lights to allow for night games. A lead gift of $3 million from the David and Carol Van Andel Foundation has made the project possible.

Graves Hall
One of Hope College’s oldest and most distinguished buildings has been brought into the modern era while also being returned to its original glory in an “adaptive restoration” being completed for the start of classes in fall 2009.

Dedicated in 1894, Graves Hall is Hope’s third-oldest building and was constructed as the college’s chapel and library in addition to serving as a classroom building. The recent, $5.7-million project restored the character of the building as it existed before major interior renovations in the 1960s and 1980s, while also meeting contemporary standards for access, safety and use. The building includes five classrooms; the 163-seat Winants Auditorium; and the Presidents’ Room, a conference room containing portraits of all of the college’s presidents. The ground level houses the Children’s After School Achievement (CASA) and Upward Bound programs, as well as the Schoon Meditation Chapel. Graves Hall and Winants Auditorium were named for Nathan Graves and Gerrit Winants respectively in honor of leadership gifts in support of the building’s original construction. A celebration of the restoration project is scheduled for Homecoming Weekend, Friday-Saturday, Oct. 16-17.

The field isnamed in honor of Ronald Boeve, Hope College class of 1953 and an assistant baseball coach for nearly a quarter of century, and his wife Sonja (Sunny).

The stadium at the Buys Athletics Complex has been completed gives Hope College one of the finest baseball facilities in NCAA Division III. The field is named in honor of Ronald Boeve, Hope College class of 1953 and an assistant baseball coach for nearly a quarter of century, and his wife Sonja (Sunny). Read press release

The Stadium has permanent stands for fans, a press box and dugouts. Fans will have an unobstructed view of the playing field. The seating accommodates approximately 300 fans. The area has a patio suitable for tailgating.

One of the finest softball stadiums in all of NCAA Division III, the facility features permanent stands for fans, a press box, spacious dugouts and public restrooms. Fans will have an unobstructed view of the new playing field. The seating accommodates approximately 250 fans. The area has a patio suitable for tailgating.

The science center project included construction of both a new, 85,900 square foot building and the renovation of the existing, 72,000 square foot Peale Science Center. The new building opened in August of 2003, and the renovation of the adjacent Peale building was completed in August of 2004. The combined structures house the departments of biology, chemistry, geological and environmental sciences, nursing and psychology. The project totaled $36 million. Learn more about this project. In May, 2006, the center was named in honor of alumnus A. Paul Schaap '67. announcement

Lubbers Hall Renovation Completed
During the Summer of 2006, the renovation of the 64-year-old Lubbers Hall was completed. The renovation of Lubbers Hall has completely changed the interior of the building, taking advantage of space made available when the department of communication relocated to the Martha Miller Center for Global Communication last year. The project has added 28 faculty offices while reducing the number of classrooms in the building from 10 to six. Lubbers continues to house the departments of English, history, philosophy, political science and religion, as well as the office of the dean for the arts and humanities.

Visit Our Photo Gallery / Information About the Project

Cook Hall Residents Say "Thank You"
Residents of Cook Hall on Wednesday joined the donors who made possible construction of the addition to the residence hall. The $2.5 million addition is providing housing for an additional 66 students open in time for the 2006 school year. Cook Hall rooms are in a "suite" design with a full bathroom joining two bedrooms. The building has lounges, an exercise room, computer lab, and laundry facilities. It is easily accessible to college dining services at the Haworth Center. Air-conditioned, Cook Hall is frequently used to host summer conference guests. Cook Hall, which opened for the 1997-98 school year, is named in honor of Peter and Emajean (Pat) Cook in recognition of their long-time support of Hope. Mr. Cook was a member of the college's Board of Trustees from 1977 until 1989. Information About the Project

Restoration of the Chapel's Skinner Organ Completed
A major restoration of the historic Skinner organ in the chapel was recently completed. First built in 1929, the organ was disassembled and taken to the A. Thompson-Allen Company—an organ restoration, maintenance and tuning business from New Haven, Conn. The organ's chambers have been repaired and workers have reinstalled the 2,932 pipes, the console and the mechanical parts.

A Jewel in the Crown (December 2006 news from Hope College)

Restoring a Treasure (Feburary 2005 news from Hope College)

Photo Gallery Featuring the Skinner Organ's Return

Eternal Illiumination

Soaring skyward, the breathtaking stained glass windows of Dimnent Memorial Chapel provide illumination both literal and figurative. Majestic and silent, framing the space and defining its purpose, they offer both sunlight and message gently, sharing inspiration for generations as members of the Hope family and friends have worshipped and reflected within.

The history of Dimnent Memorial Chapel and its magnificent stained glass windows—among the most impressive in Michigan–comes alive online

The site is especially enriched by four video segments featuring Dr. Elton Bruins ’50, who is retired from the Hope religion faculty and from serving as the founding director and a research fellow with the college’s A.C. Van Raalte Institute. Respected for his research concerning the history of Hope as well as the Holland community, Dr. Bruins discusses the chapel’s architecture; the stained glass windows in general; the Rose Window in particular; and the organs. He was interviewed for the project by Frank Kraai ’60, whose father Floyd had helped build the chapel. The videographer was Phil Blauw ’83, who is studio manager and manager of video services at Hope.

In addition to the videos, the site is illustrated with photographs of all of the windows as well as a rotating, 360-degree panoramic view of the chapel. Written narratives describe the history and symbolism of each of the windows, chronicling the biblical figures and the objects that they picture. It is an opportunity for those with an internet connection to visit and enjoy a campus landmark in a new way. enjoy now

Hope's New and Renovated Facilities

Eternal Illiumination