Construction is underway on the Centennial Plaza at Scripps College
Scripps has made progress on its exciting new section of campus, the forthcoming Centennial Plaza. Two of the plaza’s first additions include the 10th Street building and the Carolyn Lake Dance Center, both slated to open during the 2026–27 academic year.
By Emily Glory Peters
Since 1926, Scripps’ beautiful 32-acre campus has been cherished as a kind of secret garden. As the College evolved, so has our need for expanded spaces that invite innovative people, perspectives, and ideas into our community. The forthcoming Centennial Plaza, a vibrant new area linking Scripps’ historic core to its west campus arts district, is bringing those ambitions to life.
Thanks to significant donor support, the College has made major headway on phase one of the plaza: the renovated 10th Street building and highly anticipated Carolyn Lake Dance Center.
Milestones and Updates on the Centennial Plaza Project
With ceiling tiles laid, utilities installed, and fresh paint rolling onto walls, campus has buzzed with construction throughout this spring and summer.
The project crew is thrilled with the progress, says Associate Director of Planning and Construction Jouke Peutz. One major milestone included carefully relocating a mature oak tree and the 240 House, a historic former housing unit beloved by Scripps students.
Moving the oak tree near the 240 House
“The construction team has been working diligently to stay on schedule,” says Peutz. “We expect both buildings to be finished according to our timeline.”
When complete, the dance center will provide performance and rehearsal space, multipurpose collaboration rooms, and spaces to welcome audiences and visiting instructors from beyond campus.
The adaptive reuse of the 10th Street building—a former art center Scripps purchased from Claremont Graduate University—will add crucial classrooms, labs, faculty offices, and technology to enhance the College’s distinctive liberal arts curriculum. Both buildings are scheduled to open during the 2026–27 academic year.
Made for Community, by Community
Decades-long planning and extensive philanthropy from the Scripps community have made this progress possible.
More than $19.6 million in donor commitments continue to fuel the project, including a transformative $15 million gift from the Carolyn Lake Claremont Foundation, as well as ongoing generosity from alums, and meaningful support from friends, families, and faculty.
“[The project’s] success is owed in part to the vision, determination, and advocacy of past Scripps presidents, treasurers, and board members who have invested infinite time and energy bringing the Centennial Plaza to fruition,” said President Amy Marcus-Newhall at the phase one groundbreaking earlier this year. She also praised Scripps’ dance professors, construction partners, and staff for championing the plaza.
Nearly 98 percent of students live on campus, interacting in residence halls, outdoor spaces, and popular gathering spots. Funding projects like the Centennial Plaza help to ensure that these memorable encounters remain an essential part of the tight-knit Scripps experience.
“We are so grateful for these expressions of support for our Centennial Plaza project and for the many Scripps donors who have invested in its future possibility,” she said.
Bridging Scripps’ Future
While Scripps’ growth is exciting, its defining experience remains exceptionally personal.
Rendering of the future Carolyn Lake Dance Center in Centennial Plaza
Every day, our students dare to tackle tough challenges alongside faculty, forge lifelong friendships across The Claremont Colleges, and gain the confidence to make their mark on the world.
Preserving that balance is at the heart of the Centennial Plaza, a place bridging Scripps’ past to its future.
“I am excited beyond measure for this ambitious project,” says Marcus-Newhall. “It embodies the most rewarding aspects of leading this institution and captures the power and possibility of the Scripps community working together.”
Give Today! Through Scripps Forward: The Centennial Campaign for Scripps College, we aim to surpass $100 million in donor support over three years and secure a future of infinite possibility for the next century. Your generosity helps talented students fully engage in Scripps’ academic and co-curricular life.