
bring the dream home





Transformative impact
In alignment with DePaul President Rob Manuel’s vision to design the institution’s future as the national leader in higher education, the Board of Trustees authorized a philanthropic expansion aimed at transforming DePaul’s athletic facilities and creating three interdisciplinary academic institutes.
These investments are being strategically prioritized now to foster long-term financial health for the entire university as athletic success on a national scale will elevate the university’s brand, reputation, and self-generated revenues. Attributable revenue growth from admissions, philanthropy, and auxiliary revenues will allow DePaul to make future investments in academic and institution-based initiatives.
The athletics projects were approved unanimously by DePaul’s Board of Trustees after 18 months of board, campus leadership, shared governance, and Lincoln Park community conversations.
Our goal
DePaul is trailblazing a championship experience that prioritizes success for all 215+ of our student-athletes, and elevates the national visibility and reputation of our institution. Our 15 sports are ready to go to the next level — and dare to go beyond. Our dreams are more than big. They're championship sized.
Dreams Done.
This is a historic opportunity for DePaul that will immediately boost the trajectory of all 15 of our varsity athletics programs. Every single DePaul student-athlete will soon have access to industry-leading training, practice, sports performance, sports medicine, and wellness facilities. These investments will provide our student-athletes and coaches the resources to train, recruit, and compete at the highest levels of collegiate athletics.
Our entire university will benefit from a healthy, vibrant athletics program. Athletic success will enhance national visibility, brand awareness, and affinity for DePaul, while positively affecting enrollment and tuition revenue, retention, ancillary revenues, and philanthropic support.
It’s time to be Chicago’s Team.
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While the addition of Wintrust Arena has increased our visibility, ability to recruit, and footprint in Chicago, DePaul must continue taking steps towards being able to provide each of our 15 sports programs with the facilities they need to be competitive in the BIG EAST Conference. A championship culture begins with the environment we create—from recruiting to practice, training to game time—we need to invest in every aspect of the student-athlete experience.
The estimated total of approximately $60 million for both capital projects will be funded primarily through donor gifts. Accordingly, the Philanthropy Committee of DePaul’s Board of Trustees has approved two focused fundraising campaigns—the first to support academic initiatives focused on improving reputation and quality and increasing interdisciplinary activities, and the second to assist in the funding of these capital projects.
These investments are being strategically prioritized now to foster long-term financial health for the entire university. Athletic success on a national scale will elevate the university’s brand, reputation, and self-generated revenues. Attributable revenue growth from admissions, philanthropy, and auxiliary revenues will allow DePaul to make future investments in academic and institution-based initiatives.

DeWayne Peevy
Vice President & Director of Athletics
SUPPORTING ALL STUDENT-ATHLETES
For the first time in DePaul Athletics history, each varsity sports program will have its own locker room. Complete with personal space, movable furniture and whiteboards, this is where bonds are built—in a dedicated team space before even stepping out into the competition venue.
Top-tier recruitment
First impressions matter. We will recruit elite athletic talent to DePaul through academics, teams, coaches, programs and more, but we’ll open the door through our dedicated recruiting room.
Utilized by all 15 sports, a new recruiting space will tell the storied history of DePaul Athletics with striking visuals and interactive technology. Recruits will picture themselves as Blue Demons, while family members connect with coaches and staff in a comfortable lounge area.
Ace addition
With the addition of a new, basketball practice facility, spaces in the Sullivan Athletics Center will be reimagined to allow for every team to have their own locker room for the first time in DePaul Athletics’ history.
DePaul Volleyball will take center stage in a modernized McGrath-Phillips Arena with dedicated features to support the program’s unique needs. Fan engagement and visual enhancements in the space will allow the arena to become more dynamic for both DePaul events and outside community rentals.
Space reallocations in the Sullivan Athletics Center will allow for the addition of desperately needed office space for both coaches and staff, an expanded weight room and academic center, and a lounge to support recruiting for all sports.
Stronger together
Hard work: We’re known for it, but it’s time we had a place for it that can appropriately accommodate all our student-athletes. The renovated Sullivan Athletics Center will house a new, state-of-the-art weight room for Blue Demons to get better, faster, stronger. This is where gains are made, where champions find out what they’re made of.
Elite TRAINING FOR ALL STUDENT-ATHLETES
DePaul men’s and women’s basketball will move their training, practices, and operations across the street from the Sullivan Athletics Center to allow for more dedicated spaces to support the programs. The new facility will feature an exterior, brick façade that mirrors the neighborhood, and a pitched roof that pays homage to DePaul’s former Lincoln Park arena, Alumni Hall. Floor-to-ceiling glass around the gyms will serve as a prominent focal point for recruits, showing off stunning views of where the Blue Demons call home — Chicago.
Dedicated practice courts for each basketball program will greatly alleviate scheduling concerns, as all 15 of DePaul’s programs currently share the McGrath-Phillips Arena courts.
The first floor of the facility will be dedicated to the health and wellness of all 215+ DePaul student-athletes, and will include a team dining space, nutrition bar, new sports medicine treatment spaces and offices, hydrotherapy, a weight room, and multi-purpose meeting rooms.
Chicago's team
Blue Demons will never forget who they play for and what’s at stake as they practice on new, dedicated courts with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city of Chicago.
With their new home, each of DePaul's basketball programs will have dedicated, 24/7 space to practice and train. Additionally, the building provides an entire floor dedicated to health and wellness, and will include a team dining space, nutrition bar, new sports medicine treatment spaces and offices, hydrotherapy, a weight room, and multi-purpose meeting rooms. The building will also offer additional office space for support staff and expand the commitment to a championship athletics department.
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Join us
The time to make our dreams a reality is now. Philanthropic support is key to advancing these projects. With far-reaching benefits beyond sports, your support will leave a legacy at DePaul University now—and for generations to come. What we build today—higher visibility, increased affinity, stronger culture—feeds application volume, enrollment and retention.
Together, we will transform our institution and make an impact on all DePaul students. Join our huddle, and let’s win.
Design priorities
no added congestion
The construction of the new basketball practice facility will not bring new populations to campus. This project will be accessible to the same population we currently service, now spread out between two buildings.
sustainability
The project will be fully compliant with the City of Chicago’s Sustainable Development Policy by achieving 100 points for the construction of the new training facility from the DPD Sustainable Strategies Menu. Further, the project will meet, or exceed, the City of Chicago’s energy code and stormwater ordinances and will focus on initiatives that reduce indoor water use, waste diversion, and bird protection.

Health & Wellness
A strong commitment to the health and wellness of DePaul student-athletes is being made in the design of both projects, including the addition of medical treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery spaces, the addition of two sports performance training rooms, and spaces dedicated to DEI and mental health professionals.
community commitment
DePaul is committed to creating economic opportunities for minority-owned, woman-owned, and Chicago-based businesses. The targeted goal for subcontracted spending with both minority-owned and woman-owned businesses for the project is 32%.
school spirit & affinity
Unique design elements in both projects will be included to convey school spirit and enhance affinity with Blue Demon students, faculty, staff, and fans entering or passing by the buildings. Further, the design was intentionally developed in an aesthetic vernacular to be consistent with the surrounding neighborhood.
TOP-TIER RECRUITMENT
Design elements and dedicated recruiting spaces in each project will differentiate DePaul nationally from its peers. In addition, spaces will be added that show the unique history and tradition of DePaul Athletics and honor Blue Demon alumni.
Frequently asked questions
For more information, please contact Assistant Vice President of Athletics Advancement, Patrick Gray.
make a giftThese investments are being strategically prioritized now to foster long-term financial health for the entire university. Athletic success on a national scale will elevate the university’s brand, reputation, and self-generated revenues. Attributable revenue growth from admissions, philanthropy, and auxiliary revenues will allow DePaul to make future investments in academic and institution-based initiatives.
Further, these investments are a historic and transformational opportunity for DePaul that will immediately boost the trajectory of all 15 of our varsity athletics programs. Upon completion, every DePaul student-athlete will have access to industry-leading training, practice, sports performance, sports medicine, and wellness facilities. These investments will provide our student-athletes and coaches the resources to train, recruit, and compete at the highest levels of collegiate athletics.
After an 18-month study, the university determined that the overall financial investment in DePaul Athletics has historically been materially lacking and has proven to be an impediment to program success.
Among the findings, DePaul currently stands as one of only two BIG EAST Conference programs without a dedicated basketball practice facility constructed or currently in the design phase for impending construction. Further, DePaul is among a small minority of Division I institutions that still do not offer locker rooms for each team, severely affecting the student-athlete experience and recruitment of potential students across all 15 sports. Each of the two proposed projects are slated to fix DePaul Athletics’ most pressing needs and provide space for future growth.
These investments are being strategically prioritized now to foster long-term financial health for the entire university. Athletics success on a national scale will elevate the university’s brand, reputation, and self-generated revenues. Attributable revenue growth from admissions, philanthropy, and auxiliary revenues will allow DePaul to make future investments in academic and institution-based initiatives.
Yes, all 219 student-athletes and all 15 sports programs will benefit from these projects through the creation of dedicated locker rooms for all varsity sports—for the first time in school history—in addition to modernized sports performance, sports medicine, team meeting room, and nutritional spaces for all student-athletes. These investments will provide our student-athletes and coaches the resources to train, recruit, and compete at the highest levels of collegiate athletics.
The estimated total of approximately $60 million for both capital projects will be funded primarily through donor gifts. The projects have dependencies between them, so one cannot be accomplished fully without the other; however, the projects can run concurrently once said dependencies are met.
As part of a larger university philanthropic expansion, the Philanthropy Committee of DePaul’s Board of Trustees has approved two focused fundraising campaigns—the first to support academic initiatives focused on interdisciplinary research and learning, and the second to assist in the funding of these capital projects for DePaul Athletics.
Philanthropic support and corporate naming opportunities will be key to the advancement of these projects and fundraising will begin immediately.
The feasibility study was key in determining the most cost-effective option that accomplished the goals set forth in the needs assessment and affected the most student-athletes possible, while also leaving flexible spaces to adapt to evolving needs and future growth.
The project will be fully compliant with the City of Chicago’s Sustainable Development Policy by achieving 100 points for the construction of the new training facility from the DPD Sustainable Strategies Menu. Further, the project will meet, or exceed, the City of Chicago’s energy code and stormwater ordinances and will focus on initiatives that reduce indoor water use, waste diversion, and bird protection.
The renovation of the Sullivan Athletics Center will allow the opportunity for the building to be updated to meet modernized building codes.
The basketball practice facility will be constructed at the corner of Belden Avenue and Sheffield Avenue on DePaul’s Lincoln Park Campus, across the street from the current Sullivan Athletics Center. The facility will replace a few currently constructed, DePaul-owned and privately managed housing properties. DePaul’s Sheffield Square student apartment complex will not be affected, nor any other academic spaces.
The university considered a variety of concepts as part of a robust feasibility study. After conducting a needs assessment with student-athletes, coaches, and athletics staff, reviewing benchmarking data from peer BIG EAST institutions, and discussing with campus partners, DePaul adopted the proposed model.
Key factors in the selection of the proposed location were property costs, student-athlete and staff access, proximity to student-athlete housing and other support services, and other ancillary costs that would be incurred with off-campus locations.
The renovation of the Sullivan Athletics Center will not affect any other buildings or spaces. The new basketball practice facility is currently planned for the northwest corner of Sheffield and Belden, across from the Sullivan Athletic Center, where a recently acquired, university-owned apartment complex currently is constructed. There are four other smaller buildings in this area, including the current Athletics Annex and other housing-managed properties. The demolition of these buildings would not begin until summer 2025 at the earliest. No academic spaces will be affected by either project.
The construction of the new basketball practice facility will not bring new populations to campus. This project will be accessible to the same population we currently service, now spread out between two buildings.
The university will work carefully to ensure traffic impacts on Sheffield and Belden Avenue are minimized during the construction of the project. A pre-construction community meeting will be held once a construction vendor is selected to further discuss this impact.
Wintrust Arena serves as a state-of-the-art facility for game day and pre-game practices; however, its non-DePaul event calendar, and the logistics of daily transportation to Wintrust Arena are not feasible for regular practice when considering academic commitments on the Lincoln Park Campus. Additionally, all student-athlete support services are located on the Lincoln Park Campus.
Currently, DePaul is the only BIG EAST Conference institution that does not have a dedicated basketball practice facility constructed or currently approved for construction. A basketball practice facility, separate from the team’s home arena, is not uncommon in the BIG EAST Conference or within Power 5 schools—in fact, it is considered the current industry standard.
The university conducted a needs assessment with student-athletes, coaches, and athletics staff. We also reviewed further benchmarking data from peer BIG EAST Conference institutions. Upon completion of the feasibility study, Athletics shared the results with various committees of the Board of Trustees, university senior leadership, deans, the University Athletics Board, the Student Government Association, Faculty Council, Staff Council, the Strategic Resource Allocation Committee, and other key campus stakeholders, including Housing, Dining & Student Centers, in order to garner feedback and refine the proposal. This process took place over a period of 18 months.
DePaul has engaged with and solicited feedback from former 43rd Ward Alderman Michele Smith, current 43rd Ward Alderman Timmy Knudsen, and the city’s Department of Planning and Development. In addition, DePaul’s Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC), comprised of leaders of the surrounding neighborhood groups including the Sheffield Neighborhood Association, the Wrightwood Neighbors, the Seminary Townhome Association, the Lincoln Central Association, and the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce, were given a high-level conceptual description of the project for feedback. The university received positive initial feedback from these groups and DePaul will work closely to ensure that the concerns of the community are heard and taken into consideration as planning continues.
The university will host a formal community meeting to outline the projects and garner further feedback from the community this fall. The meeting will be moderated by Alderman Knudsen so that we can hear directly from neighbors, and they can learn more about why this will enhance DePaul University without undue impact on neighborhood life.
The modernization of McGrath-Phillips Arena will provide a state-of-the-art competition venue in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, perfect for evening entertainment outings, small events, and local school competitions as permissible by NCAA rules. The additional space alone will also allow for more collaboration with community groups for usable and rentable space in McGrath-Phillips Arena.
Overall financial strength from enrollment levels and student retention are benefits that inure to the entire university and the surrounding Lincoln Park community in the form of stability in the number of faculty and staff jobs offered and the university’s economic impact on the neighborhood. The construction of both projects will further support new job opportunities and generate indirect tax revenue and permit-related fees payable to the city.
Further, the university is committed to creating economic opportunities for minority-owned, woman-owned, and Chicago-based businesses through the advancement of these projects. The targeted goal for subcontracted spending with both minority-owned and woman-owned businesses for the project is 32%.
The project will be fully compliant with the City of Chicago’s Sustainable Development Policy by achieving 100 points for the construction of the new training facility from the DPD Sustainable Strategies Menu. Further, the project will meet, or exceed, the City of Chicago’s energy code and stormwater ordinances and will focus on initiatives that reduce indoor water use, waste diversion, and bird protection.
The renovation of the Sullivan Athletics Center will allow the opportunity for the building to be updated to meet modernized building codes.
Yes, there will be numerous opportunities to get involved and have your gift be recognized within either facility. For more information, please contact Patrick Gray at patrick.gray@depaul.edu
The basketball practice facility will be constructed at the corner of Belden Avenue and Sheffield Avenue on DePaul’s Lincoln Park Campus, across the street from the current Sullivan Athletics Center. The facility will replace a few currently constructed, DePaul-owned and privately managed housing properties. DePaul’s Sheffield Square student apartment complex will not be affected, nor any other academic spaces.