Calumet College of St. Joseph (CCSJ) has received the first installment of a four-year, $100,000 commitment from the Hasse Family Foundation. The gift supports the co-naming of the terrace surrounding the newly renovated 7th floor of the College’s Smidt Building. The terrace will proudly bear the names of two families, the Hasse Family Foundation and the McCormack family.

The Hasse Family/McCormack Terrace provides panoramic views of the Region, including the Robertsdale neighborhood of Hammond, the city of Whiting, Lake Michigan, and the Chicago skyline. The College plans to use the terrace for community events, student programs, and as an open-air space where students, faculty, and staff can relax, work, and study.

“We are grateful to the Hasse Family Foundation for their generosity,” said President Amy McCormack. “Their support helps the College continue creating beautiful spaces for our students and the surrounding community to enjoy.”

The gift reflects the Hasse family’s commitment to supporting projects that enhance the student experience and strengthen connections between the College and the Region.

The terrace will be accessible from the newly renovated Heritage Room located on the 7th floor of the Smidt Building, CCSJ’s main academic building. The Smidt Building was designed by the legendary architectural firm Holabird & Root in 1949 and donated to the College in 1973. The outdoor terrace will retain its iconic overhang with circular skylight cutouts. For much of the College’s history, the seventh floor of the Smidt Building has remained largely inaccessible. Funding from a $15 million Lilly Endowment grand awarded in fall 2024 has enabled CCSJ to renovate the space and provide direct elevator access. The project is scheduled for completion later this spring.

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Please direct media inquiries to:

Jenn Gunter Peddycord
Director of Communications and Special Assistant to the President
Calumet College of St. Joseph
219-473-4227
Email: jpeddycord@ccsj.edu