The University of Notre Dame announced a plan Wednesday to upgrade and expand their football stadium for $400 million.
The renovations will add a student center to the west side of Notre Dame stadium and buildings for anthropology and psychology departments on the east side, along with digital media center. On the south side of the stadium will be music and sacred music departments. The north side, known for Touchdown Jesus, will not change.
University President Rev. John Jenkins told the Associated Press the project is "the most ambitious building project in the 172-year history of Notre Dame."
"What's exciting about this project is it brings together athletics, faculty and academics, research and a student center, so it's an integrated model," Jenkins said.
Athletic director Jack Swarbick said the notion of expanding the school's research activity and blending athletics with student life and academics is good for the school.
"It's such a powerful symbol given what's going on in college athletics right now, that you can take the stadium and say we believe in the integration of athletics into academics, and here's the living proof of it," he told the AP.
Known as the "House Rockne Built," Notre Dame Stadium was built in 1930, when Knute Rockne was the head football coach. The initial capacity was 59,075 until it was first expanded in 1997. The new expansion will also add thousands more premium seats to the total 80,795 capacity it has today.
Jenkins told the South Bend Tribune he did not come easily upon his decision to endorse the renovation. What it came down to was diversifying what the stadium offers. Now it will be used year-round instead of for home football games and commencement.
"It's an iconic stadium. People's memories are so invested in the place. They see a place that has preserved tradition," he said. "We have this large structure near the center of campus that we use eight days a year."
Transferring all those departments to Notre Dame Stadium will open up several rooms in buildings all over campus, but those are expected to be filled quickly.
The project is officially known as the Campus Crossroads Project, CLICK HERE to visit its university website.