The Collegiate Church initiative is more than a simple restoration, it is a complete transformation that will honor the past and support our community as we plan for the future.
Slated to be completed by fall 2022, the renovated church and student union will serve as the College’s proper gateway and community center. Reflecting the Augustinian ideals of faith, scholarship and community, it will be a place where the Merrimack community can gather to nourish its soul – spiritually, intellectually, culturally, artistically and socially.
Preserving the History
Since 1954, the Collegiate Church has served the spiritual needs of generations of Warriors. The renovation enhancements and updates will honor the space’s rich history and include a stained-glass window from a decommissioned church that depicts the resurrection of Christ and a historic pipe organ from Western Massachusetts that will become the church’s musical centerpiece.
A Place to Worship and Gather
The church will continue to host Merrimack traditions including Mass of the Holy Spirit, Baccalaureate Mass, worship for Mass and Sacraments and weddings. A new altar and moveable seating will allow the Merrimack community to come together for lectures, meetings and symposiums.
Accessibility and Modernization
A significant enhancement is the building’s new entrance, which features a glass-enclosed elevator that provides accessibility to people of all abilities. In addition, updated heating and electrical systems in the church will keep guests comfortable, while maximizing energy efficiency.
A Warm, Welcoming Space
Featuring dark wood paneling, brick walls and carpeted flooring, the renovated lower level will provide a safe, welcoming space for students to socialize and engage with their peers – whether they want to grab a bite to eat at the brand-new café and grill, enjoy online gaming in the e-sports room or bowl a few frames.
Entertainment Abounds
The center will house traditional leisure activities like pool, foosball and table tennis, as well as many exciting new options, including a six-lane bowling alley, a golf simulator and a room dedicated to e-sports. In addition, Merrimack will officially welcome varsity e-sports and bowling in fall 2022.
Enhanced Dining and On-Campus Job Opportunities
A new café and grill with indoor and outdoor seating will enhance campus dining, offering options throughout the day – from smoothies, coffee and breakfast, to late-night pizza and chicken fingers, plus gluten-free and vegan options. The café will also provide more on-campus jobs, as the entire Student Union will be staffed by Merrimack employees and students.
The Student Union will feature a 4,000-sqaure-foot bowling center and lounge that has a combination of high-top and booth seating. The six-lane bowling center will be the home of the new club bowling team as well as top attraction for student activity.
Each of the six lanes are available for naming.
Students will have a new dining option with an all-day fast-casual menu. The café/grill will seat 30 and feature items to suit any dietary preference. It will be open 7 days a week, from breakfast through late night, and students can order with ease using a convenient touch-screen POS system.
The café& will feature open-air dining on the patio.
Attached to the café patio, this 3,000-square foot trellis-covered area can be used for a variety of events including club meetings and receptions.
A tranquil, stone-paved plaza will contain a three-dimensional, museum quality “I heart MC” sculpture, a well-lit walkway and gorgeous landscaping.
In the 360-sqaure foot golf simulation area, students can practice their swing year-round in a high-tech TrackMan Golf simulator. Through radar and camera technology, the simulator transports users to major gold courses all over the world with undeniably realistic readings.
What better way to commemorate Merrimack’s 75-year history than a fun, interactive timeline? Set within the Student Union, students and guests can use a touch-screen kiosk to view wall projections of various highlights of the college’s history.
In The Student Union lobby, all donors who have contributed $25,000 or more will be commemorated on this highly visible wall.
This is the perfect opportunity for donors who wish to support Merrimack’s continued investment in recreational options for students. These funds will be allocated to support our many programs affiliated with the Union – buying new jerseys, maintaining the bowling alley, renewing tech subscriptions, purchasing equipment and more.
The main hall of the renovated Collegiate Church combines the classic feel of the original interior with new and innovative touches. Measuring approximately 6,200 square feet and seating hundreds of guests, the hall features vibrant stained-glass windows, a new audiovisual system, a moveable altar, beautiful crosses and a pipe organ. It will serve as a multipurpose space for worship, lectures, concerts, meetings and symposiums. The church’s new elevator ensures that it meets ADA guidelines, making it accessible to all.
A primary goal of the renovation is to make students and guests feel truly welcomed on our campus. Our modern and sleek glass entryway to the Collegiate Church, illuminated with LED lights, will create a glowing beacon, lighting the way home.
Arriving on the Merrimack campus from Deerfield, Massachusetts, the beautifully restored pipe organ will serve as the musical focal point of the newly renovated place of worship.
The hall’s state-of-the-art audio-visual system provides high-quality sound and lighting for all events, and features projector screens, crystal-clear audio and refurbished LEDs, along with new lighting fixtures.
A stunning 18-by-12 stained-glass window display will decorate the hall, depicting scenes from the life of Christ. The panels are 95 years old and were created from a combination of the church’s original glass and recycled glass from decommissioned churches.
The original Stations of the Cross around the perimeter of the church will be refurbished and presented in a more visually striking way, welcoming all who see them into the church to remember the great love of God shown to us by Christ.
The Hall at the Collegiate Church of Christ the Teacher will feature a new altar with moveable and transformative capabilities, making it the perfect centerpiece for religious ceremonies.
The original front door of the church, the West Entrance will undergo a full restoration to give it more a formal feel – featuring tall wooden doors, inlaid glass, ambient lighting and brand-new flooring.
Donor’s contributions will support maintenance, upkeep and utilities, and ensure that the structure maintains its beauty.
Andre Hanania and Maha Nassar will both receive degrees during the College’s 73rd Commencement.
