Malcolm X College West Campus is reopening its doors Saturday after a $20 million renovation designed to expand educational opportunities and create a stronger community hub for Chicago’s West Side.
The newly renovated campus at 4624 W. Madison St. includes updated learning spaces, major building improvements and the new Danny K. Davis Community Center, named in honor of the longtime congressman’s support of Malcolm X College and its West Campus.
The reopening program begins at 10 a.m. Saturday and will be livestreamed for those who cannot be there in person.
Watch the Malcolm X College West Campus grand reopening live on YouTube
The renovation is aimed at creating a more modern and welcoming campus for students, faculty and residents of Austin, Garfield Park and surrounding neighborhoods.
“The transformation of Malcolm X College’s West Campus reflects the kind of investment our communities deserve,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said. “By expanding opportunities for students and strengthening a vital institution on Chicago’s West Side, this project will help ensure that residents of Austin, Garfield Park and surrounding neighborhoods have greater access to the education and resources they need to build strong and stable futures.”
The project includes refreshed interiors, upgraded ceilings, a new roof, updated mechanical and fire alarm systems, new restrooms and improvements to the campus lobby.
At the center of the renovation is the new 3,000-square-foot Danny K. Davis Community Center, which features a multipurpose room, courtyard patio, new lobby and gathering spaces available to the broader community. The multipurpose room can accommodate as many as 458 people, and the center is expected to provide additional space for community programs, meetings and events.
Malcolm X College President David A. Sanders said the renovation is about more than updating a building.
“Our newly renovated satellite campus with a brand new 3,000 square foot Community Center is more than just a beautiful build-out,” Sanders said. “It is a state-of-the-art space built for learning, collaboration, and above all else, creating community.”
Officials say the improvements also have the potential to increase student capacity at the satellite campus by 50%, allowing it to serve approximately 2,000 students annually.
The West Campus currently offers basic and advanced certifications in health science career pathways, including certified nursing assistant programs, college prerequisite courses and early college opportunities for high school students.
Students can also access free Adult Education and English as a Second Language courses, along with preparation for the Illinois High School Diploma exam.
City Colleges Chancellor Juan Salgado described the reopening as a new chapter for the West Campus and the neighborhoods it serves.
“Today, we are opening the doors to a brilliant new chapter for our West Campus and the entire West Side,” Salgado said. “This beautiful new design and space ensures our students and neighbors have the state-of-the-art resources they deserve to learn, connect, and thrive.”
Saturday’s program is expected to include remarks from Sanders, Salgado, Johnson, West Campus Dean Barbara Meschino and Public Buildings Commission Executive Director Ray Giderof, along with elected officials and other community leaders.
The ceremony will conclude with the official ribbon cutting.
For those following from home or on the go, the full program can be viewed live beginning at 10 a.m.
Watch Live
Malcolm X College West Campus Grand Reopening
Saturday, Oct. 17 at 10 a.m.
Watch the livestream on YouTube
City Colleges of Chicago is currently enrolling students for eight-week classes beginning Oct. 19. More information is available through City Colleges of Chicago.
