To mark its 85th anniversary, Siena College unveiled the renovation and expansion of the former McGuire Hall with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, September 22nd. The newly designed facility, now known as Patricia Gioia Hall, will house the campus admissions office and serve as a welcome center for thousands of prospective Saints. As the first touch-point for future students and their families, the welcome center is critically important for the college’s ongoing recruitment efforts.
This project included a 7,000-square-foot addition off the east side of the former McGuire Hall, a new gathering/event space, and a geothermal heat pump HVAC system. Also included were interior renovations of the lobby, office space, and common areas, as well as exterior site work to install a new sidewalk and landscaping. An open-air brick structure houses the Bells of Remembrance and serves as an entry point to the Grotto. The bells were gifted to the College in 2020 by the Franciscan Friars of the Holy Name Province and Siena’s Class of ’20. A ceramic tile mosaic of the Siena sunburst emblem adorns the rear exterior wall, and a statue of St. Francis of Assisi will be stationed in front of the building to welcome campus guests.
The project was developed with the support of Paul Gioia, who dedicated the welcome center in memory of his beloved wife, Patricia. After approximately 12 months, construction was completed in time to welcome students back to campus for the Fall 2022 semester.
Click here to learn more about the Patricia Gioia Hall project
