Innovative Planning and Design Creates Cost-effective College Campus Solutions

Donnelly College is a private Catholic institution established in 1949 and located in the heart of Kansas City, Kansas. One of the top 100 most affordable colleges in the United States, Donnelly College offers a strong liberal arts curriculum along with various bachelor’s and associate degrees. To continue growing, the leadership at Donnelly College wanted to build an updated campus for high-quality, accessible education for decades to come. 

With the college having a mission of offering higher education regardless of a student’s financial circumstances or social background, coming up with a cost-effective plan for campus upgrades was paramount. Burns & McDonnell provided master planning, pre-construction cost estimating, community marketing and design services while working closely with the construction team. The innovative approach provided Donnelly College the ability and flexibility to master plan the campus with phased projects implemented over time to respond to future growth and changing trends in higher education. 

A new three-story, 72,000-square-foot academic building includes innovative learning environments, up-to-date technology features, convenient student support services, an academic resource center, science labs, a grab-and-go bistro, and a 60-seat chapel. A new landscaped quad and updated campus entrances offer much-needed outdoor space for students and faculty.