About
The Campus
Springfield College - Benedictine University is a mature campus, with a collegiate appeal covering twenty-five (25) acres. Anchoring the campus on the north is the prominent, historic Brinkerhoff Home built in 1869 by George Brinkerhoff, a close friend of President Abraham Lincoln. The four academic administrative buildings and parking lots cover approximately seven acres. Directly to the east of the Brinkerhoff Home is the College’s most recent acquisition, Mueller Hall. Mueller Hall is the women’s residence hall and the main dining room for the campus. To the south are the buildings that were part of the Ursuline Sisters’ complex consisting of Ursula Hall, Ursuline Academy and the Convent. An additional eight acres of sports playing fields and a gymnasium are located three blocks southwest of the main campus. In addition, the campus has many 100-yearold trees of different varieties and a memorial garden for meditating or daydreaming.
Brinkerhoff Home, built in 1869, is the oldest
building on campus. In 1928, the Ursuline Sisters
purchased the Italianate style home and transformed
the home into the administration offices, first
classrooms and library of the new college. Through
time, the home also housed women’s dormitory
rooms, the public relations office and student lounge.
Today, the beautiful and stately restored mansion
houses the Dean of Academic Affairs’ Office, other
supporting faculty offices and a conference room on
the second floor. The College uses the first floor for
social receptions and meetings.
Charles E. Becker Library is a two-story building
totaling 20,040 square feet of space used for the
College’s Library, “smart classroom” auditorium,
Resource Center, computer labs and faculty offices.
Dedicated in 1966, the library is named for Charles E.
Becker, former chief executive officer of Franklin Life
Insurance. Mr. Becker’s generosity helped fund the
construction of the building as well as purchase library
acquisitions. In 2002, the College received a grant to
refurbish the auditorium as a smart classroom. The
lower level of Becker Library houses the Resource
Center, computer labs, faculty offices and the Dean of
Student Affairs’ office.
Dawson Hall, dedicated on September 30, 1930,
was the first academic and administration building
built for the College. The three-story, brick, Georgian
Classic building houses 16 classrooms of varying sizes
and 11 offices. On May 8, 1977, the building was
re-named Dawson Hall in honor of Mr. and Mrs. C.A.
Dawson, alumni and benefactors of the College.
In 1997, a small group of benefactors provided funds
to build a chapel on the first floor of Dawson Hall
inside the north entrance. The Marguerite Matthews
Chapel, named in Loving Memory of Marguerite
Matthews by her daughter Ann Booth, offers students
a place for meditation and the College a restful chapel
to hold mass and other functions.
Hanlon Hall, located at the south end of the
campus, is a two-story brick building that offers 27
single furnished rooms for male residents. Each
individual room has a closet and lavatory.
Ira A. Weaver Science Building was added to the east side of Dawson Hall in 1961 to house the new science labs and offices. The 7200 square foot, two-story science building houses five science classrooms, science laboratories and three offices.
Mueller Hall, directly north of the college parking lot on Sixth Street, is the former Carrie Post King’s Daughters Retirement Home. Built in the 1860’s with 14,200 square feet, the historic home was once owned by the Post family of cereal fame. In October 2006, the College renamed the home Mueller Hall in honor of the Mueller family which includes former SCI president and long-serving history professor, Jeff Mueller, along with his parents, Grant and Nell Mueller. The new women’s residence hall has 26 female residences as well as the College’s dining hall.
Mueth Hall, located at the south end of the campus, is a single-story brick building that is used as a male residence hall. Mueth Hall offers single rooms or suites with a shared bath.
