Next Molloy expansion OK'd

Molloy College received approval from the village Planning Board last week to go ahead with the next stage of the college’s plan to expand its Rockville Centre campus.

The next steps in Molloy’s multi-phase growth plan include the construction of a three-story, 48,900-square-foot academic building in the southwestern portion of the campus; the construction of a four-level, 54,310-square-foot parking garage with 683 parking spots on the college’s northwestern side; the reconfiguration of parking areas adjacent to the sites of both new structures; and the conversion of a staff parking lot into a courtyard.

According to Ken Young, Molloy’s director of public relations, the new buildings will cost between $38 million and $40 million and will be funded primarily by private donors.

The projects are part of the college’s Master Plan to expand its campus and raise its profile on Long Island and beyond.

Implementation of the plan began in 2009 with the groundbreaking for Molloy’s Public Square. That was followed by construction of the school’s first dormitory, Fitzgerald Hall, which houses 156 students.

The crown jewel of the college’s first wave of building is the Madison Theatre, a 550-seat auditorium that is used by both the school and the community. Since it opened in November 2011, the theater has featured performers ranging from Martin Short to Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and hosted community events like the Rockville Centre Education Foundation Gala.

Molloy recently completed construction of the Bob Klein Softball Field at the Skelos Athletic Complex on Peninsula Boulevard, not far from the campus. The NCAA-regulation field will be the college team’s home turf, and will also be made available to the community. Molloy is working on a similar arrangement to renovate the baseball field at the county-owned Mitchel Athletic Complex.

“I think it’s a wonderful plan for the college and for Rockville Centre,” said Mayor Francis Murray. “When the students come, families come to visit, they have to stay somewhere. They’ll stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants, pray in our churches.”