A Space to Inspire
Falvey Library at Vic Maggitti Hall will offer countless opportunities for Villanovans to connect with knowledge—and each other
Villanova has embarked on a once-in-a-generation project that will create a dynamic hub for academic innovation and collaboration at the center of campus. When completed in 2027, Falvey Library at Vic Maggitti Hall will stand as an iconic landmark that amplifies and supports Villanova’s renowned academic experience.
“The new home for Falvey Library represents a profound investment in Villanova’s future and a significant step forward in achieving the goals of our Strategic Plan, ‘Rooted. Restless.,’” says University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, ’75 CLAS. “Few spaces on campus are as central to the Villanova experience or so powerfully set the tone for the University as a library.”
The library is one of the most visited places on campus—with more than a half-million unique visits each year. Thoughtfully designed to accommodate students and faculty across all disciplines and levels of study, Vic Maggitti Hall will reach more students than any other building.
“This new building will dramatically expand our ability to provide resources and services to all Villanovans in a modern, welcoming environment,” says University Librarian Millicent Gaskell.
With a total of five floors, the new library will provide 150,000 square feet of space (equivalent to almost 3.5 acres) for teaching, learning and scholarship. Distinctive features will include:
- Displays of the University’s collections of rare books and manuscripts and historically significant artifacts
- Spaces where faculty and students can employ digital tools and techniques to enhance their research
- A central location for academic resources for students in the Learning Commons
- Plentiful, flexible study seats and team rooms—addressing a critical need on campus with a 60% increase in the amount of available study seating
“The value and relevance of academic libraries has only grown with the continued digitization of our world,” says Provost Patrick G. Maggitti, PhD. “They are centers of learning, innovation and collaboration where different disciplines collide in unexpected ways. This new building will carry on that legacy, advancing and supporting Villanova’s intellectual community for generations to come.”
A Champion of the Library
Victor J. Maggitti Jr. ’56 VSB knows the power of a library—he credits the staff and resources of Falvey Library for helping him to succeed as a student at Villanova in the 1950s. Librarians were always available to assist him with locating course materials, and the library provided the comfortable and convenient study space he needed as a commuter student. Those experiences are what inspired him to commit $20 million as the leadership gift for Falvey Library at Vic Maggitti Hall.
“Villanova shaped who I am today, and through this gift I hope to help impact the lives of generations of Villanovans to come,” Maggitti says.
Maggitti is the founder and president of Vimco Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of construction supplies and accessories, and a longtime and dedicated supporter of various Villanova initiatives, including Athletics facilities and the John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts. He was recognized in 2006 with the Villanova University Alumni Association’s highest honor, the St. Thomas of Villanova Medal.
DID YOU KNOW?
Construction on the new building will kick off this summer with the removal of Kennedy Hall, allowing Falvey Library at Vic Maggitti Hall to sit in the bustling center of campus, alongside the Riley Ellipse.
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