Building for the Future

As was originally intended, this space serves as a unifying gathering place for our community. LaCrosse Community Commons is the heart and soul of our campus, and a central part of the student experience. The space is accessed by all students multiple times each day and for a variety of functions –– eating, meeting and learning.

The restoration of Alumni Memorial Chapel exposed its gorgeous arched beams, original woodwork and stained-glass dormers and windows that were hidden for decades. The ceiling regained its majestic vaulted height and light floods the space. The new Jacobs Dining Room is a stunning showpiece, uplifting spirits and conveying grandeur and calm. It infusse a sense of history and tradition into daily life at WMA. 

The goal of preserving tradition while building something new continued with the servery. The rough-hewn brownstone exterior Chapel wall became the servery’s interior accent wall. During the day, skylights illuminate the servery with natural light, highlighting the beauty of the original brownstone exterior and creating a stunning backdrop for a modern “country kitchen” style.  Students interact with chefs and servers, as their meals move from preparation to plates, all within view.

Situated within LaCrosse Community Commons, the Gill Memorial Hall has restored Gothic pocket doors to be used as a moveable wall, enabling one large dining space or two smaller ones to be configured as needed. With doors open, Gill has become an extension of the Dining Commons, including an Executive Dining Room in the loft allowing for private meetings over a meal. Its lovely design accents––eight-foot bookcases, archival library editions, fireplace, exposed wood trusses and elevated wrought iron railings––create a warm and inviting dining experience. With the pocket doors closed, the space is akin to a bookstore café, used as an extension of Griffin Athenaeum and amplifying the social and academic synergy between the buildings.

LaCrosse Community Commons opened in August 2026.

Next, we will commence the transformation of the former dining hall into a state-of-the-art, large-capacity theater and performance space.