Hillsdale College Unveils New 20,850 sq. ft. Searle Center

October 5, 2015 – Hillsdale, MI

Hillsdale College today opened its new Searle Center, a 20,850-square-foot facility that will host events, new study rooms, offices, and guests. The opening comes after more than a year of renovations and expansions to support its 1,500 students and to accommodate a significant increase in visitors and attendees at the College’s popular on-campus lecture programs.

“This expansion is a testament to Hillsdale’s growing national influence,” said Rich Péwé, chief administrative officer at Hillsdale. “The Searle Center will give Hillsdale the space required to accommodate our students and guests, and allow for more of the events and lectures that make Hillsdale unique.”

The Searle Center is the first phase of a capital expansion project of the Curtiss Memorial Dining Hall and Phillips Auditorium. Seating capacity at the dining hall has increased to 750, and a professional kitchen has been added. Additional structural changes complement the main campus architecture, including a raised roof, well-appointed traditional finishes, a new façade, porte-cochere, and veranda. The spacious lobby features an escalator, elevator, grand staircase, and offices.

The Center was made possible by the generous gifts and pledges from supporters and friends of the College, and by Gunnar Klarr and Louise Searle Klarr, daughter of William L. Searle and granddaughter of Gideon Daniel Searle, for whom the Center is named.

A luncheon and dedication ceremony at noon on Monday, Oct. 5 will be held in the Searle Center.

All media are welcome to attend the dedication ceremony, with building tours available from Oct. 5 through Oct. 14. For tour, please RSVP to Emily Stack Davis at [email protected] or 517-803-3745.

Photos of the Searle Center space are here.

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