The Newman Center at Wichita State looks different after a $1 million makeover. 

“It’s a lot more efficient. We can do a lot more and we can house a lot more students,” Dillon Scott, Student Life Coordinator for the Newman Center, said. Scott estimated that around 40 students use the Newman Center daily, including about 20 that come for Mass. 

The top floor received a makeover last semester, and is again open to students. A new chapel is the crown jewel of the “Renaissance Project” renovations, along with new offices, restrooms and a classroom. The project also expanded the building’s heating and cooling system. 

“Students are just overjoyed that now they have the complete basement again,” Scott said.

Pastor John Hays was the spark behind the project. The building had not been renovated since opening in 1967. He recognized the Center’s need after arriving at WSU.

Last spring, ideas first went into action when the planning stage began and construction began in July. Six months later, the upper story is finished. Staff and students joined together on Jan. 25 for a dedication Mass attended by the Bishop Michael Owen Jackels of the Wichita Diocese of the Catholic Church.

The new look brought many changes to the floor’s layout. The largest change was combining the building’s two chapels into one. Students stood in the hallway during Mass due to seating shortage. 

In addition to worship, the building hosts study resources and fellowship events for all WSU students. Their regular activities include events every Monday night and the first Friday of each month. Friday night, students joined together in the basement to learn 19th Century dances without the disruption of construction. During construction, the basement was congested with a temporary chapel.

The center may have overextended itself. In a letter posted on the facility’s website, Hays said January’s income was short $5,000 of meeting the monthly operating needs, and the church needs to pay $279,000 toward the Renaissance project.

“I beg you to talk about our ministry, share it with others, invite them to be part of keeping this ministry alive,” the letter reads. “It would be sad if we were not able to reach our full potential because of a lack of material resources.”

Scott said he’s excited about the changes and hopes the center attracts more students. Hays wrote, “While we have experienced tremendous growth, we are realizing what growing pains feel like.”