Calumet College of St. Joseph (CCSJ) recently received a gift of $200,000 from bp America to enhance educational programming related to the College’s development of a Heritage Room.

“We are so grateful for this gift,” said President Amy McCormack, “It enables us to help live out our vision to serve as a vital educational resource not only for our students, but for the community beyond our campus. We look forward to this partnership with bp to help tell the story of the heritage we all share.”

The Heritage Room, sponsored by bp, will be located on the 7th floor of the Smidt Building, CCSJ’s main academic building. The Smidt building, designed by the legendary architectural firm Holabird & Root, was constructed in 1949 by Standard Oil. It served as a research and development facility until the property was donated to the school in 1973.

Throughout its history, the 7th floor of the building has been largely inaccessible and unused. A $15 million grant award from the Lilly Endowment is enabling the College to renovate and provide direct elevator access to the floor. Through floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor terrace, visitors will be able to enjoy sweeping views of the Chicago skyline, Lake Michigan, Whiting and the Robertsdale neighborhood of Hammond, as well as an overview of the refinery, steel mills, rail lines and other industrial facilities.

The Heritage Room, sponsored by bp, will help tell the ongoing story of how people interacted with the landscape to develop the industries that shaped our Region’s history, which in turn, built and continue to fuel our nation. The Heritage Room will be one of three spaces on the campus that celebrate the stories of the Land, People and Work of the Calumet Region.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Calumet College of St. Joseph in supporting their educational initiatives. Education is fundamental to community development, and we believe that our investment in the bp Heritage Room will help preserve and celebrate the rich history of our region. This investment underscores our commitment to education and represents an opportunity to foster growth for the next generation of leaders from Northwest Indiana.” Chris DellaFranco, VP Refining bp Whiting Refinery.

Currently in its early phase of construction, the 7th floor will be complete in the fall of 2025 or the spring of 2026. It is envisioned the Heritage Room, sponsored by bp, will serve the community as an interactive public educational space that will also be available for private rental.

Calumet College of St. Joseph is a graduate and undergraduate degree-granting institution sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

###

Please direct media inquiries to:

Brian Lowry
Director of Communications and Public Relations
(219) 682-8620
blowry@ccsj.edu