The deconstruction of Mount St. Mary’s may commence at the end of the summer, according to the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph. The organization aims to repurpose nearly all building materials from the iconic structure.

Eileen Biehl, director of Communications for the Congregation, emphasized that this process is being termed a deconstruction rather than a demolition. "The discernment about Mount St. Mary’s has been a long time coming," she said. "We actually have had two previous tenants in the building since the sisters moved out. All our sisters have moved into the newer buildings on the other side of Mount St. Mary’s."

Past tenants, including Catholic Charities, found the building inadequate for their needs over time. The decision to deconstruct was driven by environmental considerations and resource stewardship. “The sisters determined that deconstruction was the most responsible option and it best served our sisters, our ministries, and our mission,” Biehl explained.

Constructed in 1915, Mount St. Mary’s spans 60,000 square feet and will be removed along with a newer adjacent building. The goal is to find uses for 98 percent of these structures' materials.

While no exact timeline has been set, work is anticipated to begin by late summer. “Deconstruction takes a lot more time and there are a lot more pieces,” Biehl noted. The project will involve local bidders and contractors interested in repurposing materials from the site.

Instead of traditional demolition debris, passersby will see sorted piles of bricks and other materials during deconstruction. Despite changes to the physical landscape, Biehl reassured that "the spiritual landscape is untouched." She added, “We are very proud of our heritage in Wichita... Nothing about that is changing.”

Mount St. Mary’s was completed in 1915 after an earlier building on the site burned down in 1913. The original structure had housed 26 sisters and 20 orphans who escaped unharmed from the fire.

The Diocese of Wichita did not participate in making this decision.