BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — On April 15, Illinois Wesleyan University will break ground on the much-anticipated Petrick Idea Center, a space designed to foster collaboration and creativity across disciplines.
The event will begin at 11 a.m. outdoors, west of the Joyce Eichhorn Ames School of Art and Design, with remarks from faculty members and students.
The Petrick Idea Center will be constructed on the southwest corner of campus as an expansion of the Ames School of Art and Design. Entirely funded by donors, including foundational donors — the late David Petrick ‘67 and his wife Ellen (Reid) Petrick ‘68, Marc Talluto ‘94 and his wife Noel, and Ann (Marquis) Fisher ‘82 and her husband Alan Fisher — the 14,850-square-foot design will serve as a creative hub with state-of-the-art resources available to the entire campus. The University expects the facility to be ready for use by fall 2026.
“We are thrilled to break ground on a project that will unite the creative and innovative minds across diverse fields on our campus. The Petrick Idea Center will undoubtedly give Illinois Wesleyan a competitive edge, reinforcing our commitment to become one of the premiere entrepreneurial liberal arts universities in the nation,” said President Sheahon Zenger.
Featuring makerspaces and prototyping facilities, an amphitheater, collaborative meeting and teaching spaces, incubator space for the University’s top student-led startups, a test kitchen, 3D printers, laser cutters, sewing and embroidery machines, numerous power tools, and audio/video recording and editing equipment, the center will serve as a launchpad for students and faculty to bring their ideas to life. Some spaces in the Ames School of Art and Design will also be remodeled and enhanced as part of the project.
Immediately following the groundbreaking ceremony, the University will hold an event to honor Dave Petrick posthumously as the 2025 IWU Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year.