The Canning Student Center will be a welcoming beacon in our community. This new front door to campus will centralize services that are critical to student success, convene campus life activities to help foster students鈥� sense of belonging, and house the University Center and Hospitality Management programs.
Other features include:
The University Center has partnered with DePaul University, Northern Illinois University, Roosevelt University and Southern Illinois University to offer bachelor's degree programs that can be completed while staying on 51社区's campus, offering an affordable and convenient path to a four-year degree. Learn more.
**Funded in part by the referendum approved by District 512 voters in 2018
51社区 marked a key milestone in building the new Canning Student Center and University Center with a beam signing ceremony. Leaders, students, and community members came together to celebrate progress on this transformative facility.
Building Letter: The Canning Student Center will be Building N.
Sustainability: The building is designed to be LEED Silver certified, which outlines stringent criteria around environmental stewardship and sustainable practices. A key feature will be a vegetated roof to manage and reduce stormwater runoff. Other sustainability features include efficient HVAC systems to reduce energy consumption, LED lighting and daylighting strategies to minimize electrical usage, enhanced insulation, low-flow plumbing fixtures, low-volatile organic compound (VOC) materials to improve indoor air quality, materials with high-recycled content, locally sourced materials, and reflective materials to reduce heat absorption.
Artwork: Oasis, a bronze sculpture by John Medwedeff, is being relocated from the circle drive to the north side of campus. Permanent original public art is being commissioned through the Illinois Capital Development Board鈥檚 Art-in-Architecture Program.
The Canning Student Center will house programs and services including:
Information Desk, First Floor
Open Area, Second Floor
Space for Student Organizations
Staircase to Second Floor
Conference Room
Small Conference Room
East Side of the Building by the Performing Arts Center
Exterior from the South
Exterior from the Southeast
Exterior from the Southeast
Southeast Entrance
Project lead: The Illinois Capital Development Board is overseeing the design and construction in accordance with the protocol for state-appropriated projects.
Project history: The Canning Student Center is many years in the making. A proposed one stop/admissions and campus/student life center was included on the Illinois Community College Board capital projects list beginning in the early 2000s, and funding was first approved in 2010. Site preparation began in spring 2015 to remove underground utilities; however, the building construction scheduled to begin in fall 2015 was put on hold due to the postponement of state-supported capital projects during the state鈥檚 budget impasse. In 2020, Governor JB Pritzker announced 51社区 would receive the funding through the historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital plan. In 2021, 51社区 adopted a new Campus Master Plan, a shared vision developed through extensive stakeholder input that will guide campus development through 2031. Through that plan, 51社区 incorporated the University Center into the Canning Student Center to maximize taxpayer dollars and minimize the campus footprint.
Donors: The building is named the Canning Student Center in recognition of Rita and John Canning, longtime supporters of 51社区 and the Rita and John Canning Women鈥檚 Program.
Getting to campus: Due to construction on campus, the bus stop for Pace route 697 has been relocated to the front of Building Y by lot 4. Learn more about coming to campus.
Use the Interactive Campus Map to find your way through construction closures on campus. View areas affected by construction and find routes around construction areas. Click on the Tours tab to find routes to Building A/One Stop, Building C/Admissions and other destinations during construction. Visit
Groundbreaking
Mobilization / Construction
Substantial completion
Furniture, technology and move-in
Building opens
The information on this page is subject to change.
Have a question about construction on campus? Please use this to submit any questions or feedback.