Danvers, MA — St. John’s Prep broke ground on the Memorial Student Commons on June 4, marking a major milestone in the school’s Vision 2032 strategic plan and launching a transformative renovation and expansion project designed to reimagine one of the school’s most historic buildings.
Head of School Edward P. Hardiman, Ph.D., P’19 ’21 ’26; Board Chair Thomas P. Riley ’75 P’02; members of the board of trustees; project partners from Flansburgh Architects, PROCON, and Scalora Consulting Group; representatives from Salem Five Bank and SAGE Dining Services; alumni; donors; and community supporters gathered to celebrate the occasion. The ceremony included remarks from Hardiman and Riley, as well as a blessing offered by Deacon Joseph Jasinski ’06.
The Memorial Student Commons is a cornerstone project within Vision 2032 and represents a significant investment in the future of St. John’s Prep. Construction is beginning during Memorial Dining Hall’s centennial year. Originally built in 1926, the building has served as a gathering place for generations of Prep students.
The new Memorial Student Commons is designed to transform Memorial Dining Hall into a modern, welcoming space that better serves the needs of today’s students and community. The approximately $27.5 million renovation and expansion project includes expanded and modernized kitchen and servery facilities, flexible gathering spaces for programming and mentoring, a dedicated dining area for faculty and staff, and the relocation of Student Life offices to the center of daily activity.
“The Memorial Student Commons represents our commitment to creating spaces that strengthen relationships and support the formation of young men,” said Hardiman. “For nearly 100 years, Memorial Dining Hall has been a gathering place for our community. This transformation honors that legacy while creating a vibrant center where students can connect with one another and experience the relationship-centered environment that is at the heart of a St. John’s Prep education.”
The Memorial Student Commons project is designed by Flansburgh Architects and will be constructed by PROCON and guided by Scalora Consulting Group in its role as owner’s representative. Salem Five Bank is the project’s lending partner, and St. John’s Prep is partnering with SAGE Dining Services to create a dining experience designed to reflect the evolving needs of today’s students and support the Commons’ role as the heart of daily campus life.
“PROCON is proud to serve as construction manager for the Memorial Student Commons, a project that beautifully honors St. John’s Prep’s century-long legacy while creating a dynamic space for the next generation of students. Our team is committed to delivering a facility that reflects the school’s mission and the community’s vision — one that will serve as the heart of campus life for years to come,” said Michael Yeatman, chief construction officer at PROCON.
Construction is expected to continue throughout the 2026-2027 academic year, with the Memorial Student Commons scheduled to open in August 2027 for the start of the 2027-2028 school year.
