DePaul University demolished four campus buildings over the summer to make way for its $42.3 million athletics practice facility that is expected to open in fall 2027. The new facility is part of the university’s push to invest in its sports programs to retain future athletes and boost enrollment through name recognition.
The demolished buildings, some over 100 years old, included student housing.
City approval for the new athletics facility took years to secure. The plans received pushback from community groups and preservationists, so the university took steps to protect two historic campus buildings — Byrne Hall and Cortelyou Commons — as part of the deal…