Villanova University Opens Vic Maggitti Hall, the New Home of Falvey Library

$130 million facility brings together expanded spaces for research, learning, collaboration and academic support

Villanova, Pa. (Oct. 19, 2026) — Villanova University has officially opened the doors to Vic Maggitti Hall, the new home of Falvey Library and a major addition to the University’s academic enterprise. The 150,000-square-foot facility expands opportunities for research, teaching, learning and collaboration while bringing together library resources and academic support services in one central location.

“A library is the intellectual heart of a university, a place where scholarship, discovery and community come together,” said the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, ’75 CLAS, president of Villanova University. “Vic Maggitti Hall reflects Villanova's enduring commitment to creating a learning environment where students, faculty and staff can flourish. By bringing together spaces for study, collaboration, research and innovation, Vic Maggitti Hall will strengthen the academic life of our University and foster the meaningful connections that are central to our mission. It is both a landmark moment for Villanova today and a lasting investment in future generations of Villanovans.”

The project reflects Villanova’s continued investment in the facilities and resources that support its academic mission. The project was shaped by the Villanova community from its earliest stages. More than 400 students, faculty and staff participated in listening sessions that helped inform the building’s programming and ensure Vic Maggitti Hall would meet the evolving needs of the University now and for the future.

“With the opening of Vic Maggitti Hall, Villanova gains a technology-enabled library facility that reflects the University’s increased academic stature and reach,” said Millicent Gaskell, Dean of Falvey Library. “It offers the entire Villanova community a welcoming space that fosters intellectual exploration, advances learning and supports meaningful scholarship across disciplines.”

The $130 million project, which broke ground in summer 2024, was designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, LLP and built by Turner Construction.

Supporting Scholarship and Research
As the role of academic libraries continues to evolve, Falvey Library serves not only as a repository of knowledge but as a center for research, technology, collaboration and intellectual exploration for Villanova’s academic community. Vic Maggitti Hall significantly expands the Library’s ability to support scholarship, research and knowledge creation, with purpose-built spaces for distinctive collections, digital scholarship and Villanova’s teacher-scholar model.

• Distinctive collections: Items from Falvey Library’s Distinctive Collections are displayed in multiple spaces throughout Vic Maggitti Hall. The Distinctive Collections Reading Room provides researchers with access to rare books, manuscripts and archival materials, complemented by multimedia displays and rotating exhibits. The Villanova Heritage Room highlights the University’s history, traditions and identity, while the Augustine Heritage Room explores the works of St. Augustine, the Order of St. Augustine and Villanova’s identity as an Augustinian Catholic university.
• General collections: Falvey’s 400,000-volume general collection is housed on the lower level in browsable, compact shelving. A Villanova Authors collection, highlighting scholarly publications and literary works written by faculty, is featured on the ground floor.
• Digital scholarship: An expanded Digital Scholarship suite for digital research, teaching and creative projects offers resources for digital humanities, data-intensive research, data visualization, text analysis, mapping and digital media production. Its spaces and services include audio and video production studios, recording booths, media editing facilities, and an immersive media and gaming environment designed to support podcasts, music recording, video projects, research, and creative scholarship.
• Research and Teaching: The Research and Teaching Commons brings together teams and resources that support the teacher-scholar model at Villanova, including the Villanova Institute of Teaching and Learning (VITAL), the Office of Research Development and Scholarly Support, the Digital Scholarship Suite and Falvey’s Research Librarians.

A Community of Learners
Vic Maggitti Hall significantly expands opportunities for collaborative learning, individual study, academic support and community engagement.

• A place to gather: A light-filled central atrium welcomes visitors into the heart of the building. Other features include the Speakers Corner, a dynamic cultural and intellectual lecture space, and five multipurpose rooms for academic lectures, conferences, special events and other University programming.
• Centralized student learning commons: One full floor brings together a variety of student services, including academic coaching, tutoring, presentation support and exam preparation, among others.
• Expanded study and research: The facility significantly expands the number of study seats available to the community. Fifty-nine reservable group study rooms provide more opportunities for students to work together. A dedicated suite with 50 micro-offices offers quiet, private workspaces for graduate students.
• Spaces for well-being: Three wellness rooms provide quiet settings for mental decompression, prayer and meditation. One room is specifically designed to support individuals with sensory differences.

Vic Maggitti Hall is named in recognition of a $20 million leadership gift from Victor J. Maggitti Jr. ’56 VSB. His support for the project reflects a longstanding connection to Falvey Library, which played an important role in his Villanova experience. He has credited the resources and people of Falvey Library with helping him succeed at Villanova. Throughout the years, Maggitti has demonstrated a passion for supporting projects that bolster Villanova’s facilities, providing leadership-level support to the University’s Athletics facilities, as well as the John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts.

About Falvey Library: Falvey Library serves as the primary source of academic information at Villanova University, supporting research, teaching and learning, while advancing global scholarship. Its physical space, now located in Vic Maggitti Hall, serves as a vibrant hub of activity at Villanova, welcoming well over 500,000 visitors annually in recent years. Falvey Library’s collection contains more than 2.8 million titles, including books, periodicals, print and electronic journals, a digital library collection, online exhibits, special collections and Villanova’s archives. The Library partners with the University’s schools and colleges to host academic and cultural programming and events that highlight the scholarship of Villanova’s faculty and their peers, support the intellectual growth of its students and foster a community of learning.

About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova University’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges—the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation’s top universities, Villanova supports its students’ intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu.