Le Mans Hall, the largest residential hall that simultaneously serves as an administrative building at Saint Mary’s College, has undergone intensive renovations throughout the year, specifically on the first floor.
The construction of the Prikkel Advising, Career, and Experience Center, a new facility that combines the former academic advising office and Career Crossings office, began in fall 2025 with a recent unveiling held in January. According to executive director of marketing and communications Charlie Simpson, the outer side of the center is set to be finalized in the next month.
“Construction on the north exterior entrance to the PACE Center is progressing well and should be complete in May. This enhancement will improve both access and the overall arrival experience for students, visitors, and members of the campus community,” Simpson wrote in a statement to The Observer.
He provided insights on renovations being made throughout the rest of the floor, including specific entrances into the hall and how it expands the interior space.
“Inside Le Mans Hall, we are making targeted cosmetic improvements to further enhance key gathering spaces. Near the west entrance to Reignbeaux Lounge, updates to the welcome desk area are underway. This includes extending the existing low walls to meet both the desk and the ceiling, creating a more cohesive and polished appearance,” he explained.
Simpson also described changes being made within the first floor next to the president’s office that will incorporate more technology instruments.
This includes “installing new digital displays that will recognize members of the Board of Trustees and our generous donors, while also featuring student photos and mission-focused messages. These updates introduce light, color and dynamic imagery that better reflect and celebrate the vibrancy of our community.”
Regarding a timeline on when these interior renovations will be completed, he shared that it will be finalized in mid-May to align with commencement events.
Sophomore Victoria Mac, a resident of Le Mans Hall, “got to see the whole entire process from start to finish” due to her work over the summer in the Office of Admissions as a summer admissions assistant.
She highlighted how the interior renovations came as a surprise to her and how it has presented challenges in giving tours to incoming families.
“I think it’s a little interesting how they are starting a new project, though, at the end of the semester. As someone who gives tours it looks a little funny sometimes,” Mac said. “It would be ideal to have this start and done in the summer and not during the academic year.”
She also described how the implementation of the PACE Center has helped in centralizing academic resources for students to access.
Mac explained that it helps her “showcase the opportunities and the support that we have here. I know that Saint Mary’s is all about that. Even me, as a student, I also use those resources as well.”
Junior Ava Zalduendo, also a resident of Le Mans Hall, believed that the PACE Center’s location was an improvement in comparison to its previous one in Spes Unica Hall.
“I think it’s definitely a great addition compared to what we had in Spes with the original career center. Just a lot more modern [and] open. There’s plenty of lounge space just for studying even if you’re not using any of the career offices,” she said.
Junior Sofia Dahl-Santoro shared that while the PACE Center and interior renovations may be helpful, they also present a negative side in depriving Le Mans architecture: “I always feel like additions onto Le Mans kind of take away from its antique beauty.”
