Featured Testimonial About Creighton University
By Micah Mertes
We hope our Creighton Days guests who haven’t seen the University in a while find a campus that feels both familiar and excitingly, eye-catchingly fresh.
You’ll discover more than a few corners of campus that have that new car smell — cutting-edge facilities, a beautified thoroughfare, future projects in progress. But all your old haunts are still here, too. Those beloved pockets of nostalgia. The spaces that laid the foundation for so many great Creighton experiences. St. John’s, Creighton Hall, the Mall, the Fountain, they’re right where you left them, awaiting your return.
We of course encourage you to see what all your old friends are up to. But we also don’t want you to miss the many exciting changes that have come to campus in the past few years. Here are 9 things to see during Creighton Days.
Note: We’ll describe where new buildings are located, but here’s a campus map for reference. Also, please note that not all buildings we mention will be accessible to visitors.
24th Street Beautified
This year, we dedicated one of the most pivotal campus transformations in decades — Keough Plaza, Haddix Circle roundabout and Physicians Mutual Crossing at 24th Street. The reimagining of the 24th Street corridor between Cass and Cuming Streets has been significant in so many ways. It’s revitalized the front door to North Omaha. It’s brought a greater sense of beauty to Creighton’s core. It’s made walking and commuting much safer for the thousands of pedestrians and drivers who use the street and crosswalk daily. Read more about this donor-funded transformation here.
(And fear not, alumni. In a nod to Creighton’s history, the Physicians Mutual Crosswalk was able to retain its longtime walk signal recording, due in large part to a strong alumni response. Perhaps you have your own affectionate memories of hearing “Walk signal to cross 24th Street is now on” thousands of times over the course of your years at Creighton. The 30-year-old voice signal is the last remaining feature of an otherwise full reboot.)
The Werner Center
One of the boldest endeavors in recent Creighton history is the CL and Rachel Werner Center for Health Sciences Education, now in construction and slated to open in 2023.
The Werner Center, located immediately north of the Criss Complex (across Burt Street), will serve as the new home to the School of Medicine and bring together medical, nursing, physician assistant, occupational therapy, physical therapy, pharmacy, behavioral health and other students to train and learn with — and from — each other. See video of the Werner-to-Criss skybridge going up.
Harper Center Renovations
In 2021, Creighton debuted the renovated Harper Center, home to the Heider College of Business. The stunning upgrades show Creighton’s commitment to a transformative business education and ensure that campus’s east anchor shines brighter than ever. See a gallery of photos and video of the Harper Center upgrade
(By the way, the Harper Center is where you can check in once you arrive for Creighton Days. And if you need a pick-me-up, there’s a Starbucks nearby.)
St. Peter Faber, SJ, Chapel
Speaking of the Harper Center, on the second floor you’ll now find the beautiful St. Peter Faber, SJ, Chapel, a new worship space and a symbol of our Jesuit, Catholic mission. See a gallery of the chapel here
New Residence Hall
The $37-million hall for first-year students is under construction on 23rd Street, south of Burt Street. Completion is expected in time to welcome freshman students in the fall of 2023. The residence hall, which will house 400 students, will be the first one built exclusively for first-year students since the 1960s. Read more about the residence hall
(Regarding campus construction, please note that the Jesuit Gardens are currently fenced off to make way for the construction of the new Jesuit Residence. We apologize for the inconvenience, but we promise … the Gardens will soon be fully restored. And their sabbatical is for a great cause — a new home for the heart of our Jesuit mission.
There's not much to see yet, but here's some info on what the Jesuit Residence will bring to Creighton and Omaha: Expected to open in fall 2023, the Jesuit Residence will stand along 24th Street at the east end of the historic Jesuit Gardens, behind Creighton Hall and St. John’s Church. The residence will house Jesuits, many of whom live, serve and work on campus as instructors, pastors, chaplains and University administrators and staff. The 37,779-square-foot building will be accessible to students, faculty, staff, alumni and Omaha partners for Mass, spiritual counseling and other mission-based programs.)
The Ruth
Three years ago, Creighton dedicated the Ruth Scott Training Center, a facility designed for volleyball and women’s basketball. It’s another major player in the deep bench of buildings along Creighton’s east campus athletic corridor, celebrating the talented and hard-working coaches and student-athletes who make up two programs playing at the top of their game.
The School of Dentistry
In 2018, the school started an exciting new chapter with the construction of a 200,000-square-foot clinic and facility, which has already driven significant growth in student opportunities and the amount of care we provide our patients. You can find it at 2109 Cuming St.
The Ghost of Gallagher Hall
Gallagher is gone. Long live Gallagher. You’ll now find a flat, dorm-less space where Creighton’s westernmost dorm used to be. All that remains are trace amounts of the warm, weird vibes that place always gave off.
(But don’t despair. We saved a bit of Gallagher for you. Be sure to swing by the Gallagher garage sale on Friday, Sept. 30, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Harper Center. We’ve got Gallagher bricks, Gallagher doorknobs, Gallagher room numbers and more! All items are free for Creighton Days guests, with up to three items per guest. Stop on by and head home with a piece of Creighton history.
The Mall
Take a stroll along Creighton’s Mall, which — thanks to recent upgrades and renovations — is now even prettier and brick-ier than you remember. If our Nebraska weather is functioning in a logical manner by the end of this month (no promises there), you might arrive right in time to see the changing colors and falling leaves. In that event, we hope it evokes memories of fall semesters past. Maybe even, however briefly, you’ll feel like you're on the way to your next class.
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And if you want something fun to listen to while you roam campus, have we got a podcast for you.
