A 'new look' for Molloy College

Visitors to the Molloy College campus next fall will notice several significant changes.

One of the most obvious will be the new 156-bed residence hall — the first in the college’s history. It will provide Molloy with the ability to attract students from other parts of the country who were unable to attend when it was strictly a commuter school.

“We’re planning a number of special programs for these students, including visits to local sports, entertainment and dining venues,” said Steve Ostendorff, Molloy’s director of residential life. “Although they’ll be living on campus, we want to integrate them into the community as much as possible.”

Later next fall, Molloy will open the Madison Performing Arts Center, a 550-seat theater that will host a variety of performances from leading artists in the fields of theater, music, dance, comedy and more.

“I’ve been involved with the performing arts my entire life, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to bring world-class entertainment to Molloy and all of Long Island,” said Angelo Fraboni, artistic director for the new theater.

Ground was first broken for the college dormitory after the 2010 graduation ceremony. The school broke ground on its public square and student center some months earlier, in the fall of 2009. That 57,000-square foot development will feature the theater, along with classrooms, conference rooms, administrative offices and a new cafeteria. Other highlights will include an art gallery and a multimedia center.

The theater, said Molloy’s Public Relations Director Ken Young, will be open to the community as well as to Molloy students, and it will be a venue for performances of all types. “This is all very exciting for us,” he said. “We’re trying to bring the students and the village together with this project.”

Mayor Mary Bossart agreed. “Molloy College has been an anchor for our community for many years, and I’m very pleased by their developments and their ability to be a resource for us.”

The completion of the two projects follows other recent, smaller efforts to enhance the campus for Molloy students and staff. The college was able to finish other improvements last fall that included widening its exit to Hempstead Avenue to include a left-turn lane, and working for the installation of a new traffic light at the intersection of Hempstead Avenue and Fern Street.

Last year, Molloy College leased 200 parking spots from the village in Municipal Parking Field 12 on Sunrise Highway, to accommodate administrators, faculty and students during the campus construction. The school ran shuttle buses from the field to its campus. The lease was renewed this April to run through January 2012, for $9,554 and half the number of parking spaces originally leased.

“So far, the improvements have been an adjustment, but it’s all been running smoothly,” said Young. “People can expect a new and improved Molloy College on the way.”

Comments about this story? TSteinert@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 282.