Baumer Hall

The hall was constructed thanks to a $20 million donation from John and Mollie Baumer.{{Cite web|date=2019-03-07|title=Notre Dame alumnus, wife give $20M to build men's dormitory|url=https://apnews.com/c01094c795bf48ab89eb1fecb8832dd9|access-date=2020-08-25|website=AP NEWS}}{{cite web|agency=Associated Press|title=ND gets $20 million donation for residence hall|url=https://www.wvpe.org/post/nd-gets-20-million-donation-residence-hall|access-date=4 June 2020|website=www.wvpe.org|language=en}} it was built to alleviate overcrowding of the present halls and expand the capacity of the campus.{{cite web|date=March 6, 2019|title=New men's dorm opening in August to be named Baumer Hall|url=https://ndsmcobserver.com/2019/03/new-mens-dorm-opening-in-august-to-be-named-baumer-hall/|access-date=July 7, 2019|website=The Observer}} Born in South Bend, John Baumer is a 1990 Notre Dame finance graduate and lived in Zahm Hall, and later attended University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. Baumer's father, Fred Baumer, was comptroller for the University of Notre Dame for twenty-one years. Currently, a senior partner at private equity firm Leonard Green & Partners. Baumer made a financial gift of $3 million to endow the coaching position for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's lacrosse.{{cite web|title=Notre Dame alumnus, wife give $20M to build men's dormitory|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/mar/7/notre-dame-alumnus-wife-give-20m-to-build-mens-dor/|access-date=July 7, 2019|website=The Washington Times}} He is also a member of Notre Dame's Campaign Cabinet, the Wall Street Committee, and the university's President's Circle, Rite Aid Corp, Petco Animal Supplies, FTD Group and Equinox Fitness.{{cite web|title=Timeless Appeal: Another Alumnus Donor Makes the Case for the Residential College Experience|url=http://www.bohnettfoundation.org/timeless-appeal-another-alumnus-donor-makes-the-case-for-the-residential-college-experience/|access-date=July 7, 2019|publisher=David Bohnett Foundation}}{{cite web|title=Notre Dame Receives $20 Million Gift for Residence Hall|url=https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/notre-dame-receives-20-million-gift-for-residence-hall|access-date=July 7, 2019|website=Philanthropy News Digest (PND)}} Mollie Baumer attended Saint Mary's College and the couple lives in California.{{cite web|title=South Bend native gives Notre Dame $20 million gift for new campus residence hall|url=https://indianaeconomicdigest.com/MobileContent/Most-Recent/Most-Recent/Article/South-Bend-native-gives-Notre-Dame-20-million-gift-for-new-campus-residence-hall/31/135/95413|access-date=July 7, 2019|website=Indiana Economic Digest}}

Construction started November 2017 in and was completed August 2019.{{cite web|date=March 8, 2019|title=Notre Dame graduate and his wife donating $20 million for new men's residence hall|url=https://wsbt.com/news/local/notre-dame-graduate-and-his-wife-donating-20-million-for-new-mens-residence-hall|access-date=July 7, 2019|publisher=WSBT}} It was built to attain LEED silver certification.{{Cite web|last=Dame|first=Marketing Communications: Web {{!}} University of Notre|title=Baumer Hall {{!}} Projects {{!}} Facilities Design and Operations {{!}} University of Notre Dame|url=https://facilities.nd.edu/projects/current-major-projects/baumer-hall/|access-date=2020-08-25|website=Facilities Design and Operations|language=en}} For the 2019–2020 school year, the Dillon Hall community lived in Baumer while Dillon was under renovation.{{Cite web|date=2019-08-28|title=Dillon Hall keeps community in Baumer for year // The Observer|url=https://ndsmcobserver.com/2019/08/dillon-hall-keeps-community-in-baumer-for-year/|access-date=2020-08-25|website=The Observer|language=en}}

Baumer Hall opened as its own community in 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Its first rector is Robert Lisowski, C.S.C.,{{Cite web|last=Dame|first=University of Notre|title=Baumer Hall // Residential Life // University of Notre Dame|url=https://residentiallife.nd.edu/undergraduate/halls/baumer-hall/|access-date=2020-08-25|website=Residential Life|language=en}} also known as "The Admiral,” who served from 2020 until the end of the 2023–24 academic year. Lisowski, from Scranton, earned his undergraduate degree from St. John's University and entered the Congregation of Holy Cross in 2014, served as an assistant rector for Dillon Hall in 2019, and completed his Master of Divinity at Notre Dame in May 2020. He was ordained to the priesthood on April 10, 2021.{{Cite web|last=Dame|first=Marketing Communications: Web // University of Notre|title=Baumer Hall // Residential Life // University of Notre Dame|url=https://residentiallife.nd.edu/undergraduate/halls/baumer-hall/|access-date=2021-03-13|website=Residential Life|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2020-08-04|title=Seven rectors begin new roles amid unprecedented residential year // The Observer|url=https://ndsmcobserver.com/2020/08/seven-rectors-begin-new-roles-amid-unprecedented-residential-year/|access-date=2021-03-13|website=The Observer|language=en}}

The dorm developed a rivalry with the nearby Duncan Hall. The dorm sponsored a plasma donation drive to benefit the South Bend Medical Foundation in its fight against COVID-19.{{Cite web|title=The University of Notre Dame holding a Convalescent Plasma Donation Drive|url=https://www.abc57.com/news/the-university-of-notre-dame-holding-a-convalescent-plasma-donation-drive|access-date=2021-03-13|website=ABC57|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2020-11-03|title=Baumer Hall to host plasma drive to benefit South Bend community // The Observer|url=https://ndsmcobserver.com/2020/11/baumer-hall-to-host-plasma-drive-to-benefit-south-bend-community/|access-date=2021-03-13|website=The Observer|language=en}}

In January 2022, the hall received LEED gold certification.{{Cite web|last=Roberts|first=Mary|last2=Writer/Reporter|title=Notre Dame Buildings Receive LEED Certification|url=https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/articles/notre-dame-buildings-receive-leed-certification|access-date=2022-02-11|website=Inside INdiana Business|language=en-US}}

Since its inception in 2020, Baumer Hall has developed several traditions, including Baumer Boo,[https://www.ndsmcobserver.com/article/2024/11/baumer-boo] where the dorm is turned into a haunted house to raise funds for the homeless, Buc-an-Ear, a corn sale for charity, and Baumer Voyage, a campus-wide music festival. Baumer residents also consistently sit at the head table at South Dining Hall. [https://www.baumerhall.org/about-2]

The hall is four-stories high and 78,000-square-feet. It features a two-story common lounge, a reading room and communal kitchen, a chapel, a laundry room, a vending area, storage space, and a gym. The architecture of the hall reflects a modernist collegiate Gothic style of the rest of the campus.{{cite web|title=Construction begins on new men's residence hall|url=https://evp.nd.edu/news/construction-begins-on-new-mens-residence-hall/|access-date=July 7, 2019|publisher=Office of the Executive Vice President, University of Notre Dame}}{{Cite web|title=Baumer Hall|url=https://www.goodyclancy.com/projects/baumer-hall/|access-date=2020-08-25|website=Goody Clancy|language=en-US}} The chapel, dedicated to St. Martin de Porres, was designed with clean Gothic architecture and wood detailing.

{{Reflist}}

• [https://residentiallife.nd.edu/undergraduate/halls/baumer-hall/ Baumer Hall on the Residential Life website]
• [https://tour.nd.edu/locations/baumer-hall/ Baumer Hall on the Notre Dame campus tour]
• [https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/south-bend-native-gives-notre-dame-20-million-gift-for-new-campus-residence-hall/article_5ba7fcd7-5676-5c8a-a7e2-dce2f37ed8a9.html Article on the South Bend Tribune]

{{University of Notre Dame}}

Category:2019 establishments in Indiana

Category:University and college buildings completed in 2019

Category:University of Notre Dame residence halls