AURORA – Senator Linda Holmes joined a ceremony on November 21 at the future site of the new Learning Commons facility on the Aurora University campus. She joined Aurora University President Susana Rivera-Mills and other officials to sign their names on a beam that will be part of the structure as it is built.

“The new building will be a central hub of academic life on campus, bringing together the resources students use most to a single convenient, welcoming space,” said Holmes, D-Aurora. “This environmentally friendly project will create a high-tech hub on campus that will increase opportunities for students to gather, strengthen their skills and build relationships within their community.”

Holmes obtained $750,000 in capital funding for the project in the state’s fiscal year 2025 budget, and the Learning Commons will transform the way Aurora University students learn, collaborate and connect. Holmes said the facility is expected to open in fall 2026, and it has created 50,000-man hours of union construction work.

Designed with input from across the AU community, the Learning Commons reflects a practical need: a modern, flexible environment that supports how students learn today. It will replace the aging Phillips Library, which no longer meets the demands of a growing and increasingly tech-connected student body.

“Where shelves and stacks once dominated, the Learning Commons will provide a mix of open spaces, study pods, and technology-rich learning environments. Expansive windows, natural light and open layouts will create an inviting atmosphere and a true sense of place,” said Aurora University President Susana Rivera-Mills.

Rivera-Mills added, “Our longstanding partnership with the State of Illinois, Illinois Department of Commerce and Opportunity, and Senator Holmes helped make this project a reality. We thank Senator Holmes for obtaining millions of dollars over several years for important projects at Aurora University, including our residence hall for neurodiverse students.”

The three-story, 45,000-square-foot Learning Commons will be nearly double the size of Phillips Library and will feature 8,300 square feet of open seating — about the size of two basketball courts.

Student support services, including the Academic Support Center and Disability Resource Office, will be easier to access with extended hours and a range of workshops, tutoring options and one-on-one assistance available. Whether students need help with a challenging assignment, a place to work on a group project or tools to prepare for a future career, they will find it all under one roof.

PHOTO: Sen. Linda Holmes with Aurora University President Susana Rivera-Mills, construction-zone safe and weather ready to sign a steel construction beam for the new Aurora University Learning Commons