Simmons College of Kentucky says it will build a new science and technology campus at the former Christ the King Catholic Church, a historically Black parish donated to the school after its closure earlier this year.
The Baptist-affiliated Louisville HBCU says the $32M project in the West End district will fulfill a goal the college has eyed for years, tapping into the high demand for science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) graduates around the country.
“At Simmons, it’s so important for us to meet workforce needs,” Mary Rock, Simmons College’s chief of staff, told Louisville Public Media this month.
“There’s a need in our community, not just in the West End, not just in the city, but across the commonwealth, for talent in the STEAM fields and specifically underrepresented talent.”
Roberto Roldan
The Archdiocese of Louisville announced the closure of Christ the King in March, following a steady decline in membership and the cost of maintaining the site. The 98-year-old property includes a worship edifice as well as a former K-8 parochial school. Its last Masses were held in late April.
“To honor the history of Christ the King and to keep the mission of the property in service to the community, we are entrusting this property to Simmons College and donating it to them to advance the common good in this area,” said Archbishop Shelton Fabre of Louisville, one of the nation’s African-American Catholic prelates.
A group of neighborhood collaborators brought Simmons College president Dr. Kevin W. Cosby into conversations about how to preserve the property, which led to the donation proposal.
“The archdiocese is saying to West Louisville that we want West Louisville to be a place to love,” said Cosby in March.
The school will receive $1.5 million in grant funding from the Louisville city government to help redevelop the property. It is part of a larger revitalization at Simmons under Cosby, who has seen exponential growth in enrollment in recent years. The school returned to its original campus shortly after his tenure began and successfully achieved accreditation in 2014.
The incoming class of 2029 is the largest in the college’s history, comprising 210 freshmen. The school recently completed a renovation of its on-campus housing and is reducing tuition to attract more applicants. More than 500 full-time and part-time students are currently enrolled at Simmons, according to data from the college.
Nate Tinner-Williams is co-founder and editor of Black Catholic Messenger.
