Iona University has announced the creation of The Upper Green, a new outdoor space set to enhance student interaction and experience on its New Rochelle campus. This development aims to transform an area that is currently used for outdoor storage into a landscaped greenspace adjacent to Murphy Green, complementing previously completed infrastructure upgrades.

The Upper Green will feature the Blessed Edmund Rice Chapel and offer panoramic views of Mazzella Field and the LaPenta School of Business. It will serve as an outdoor extension of the Gabelli Center for Teaching & Learning to promote stronger community bonds through interpersonal engagement. Additionally, a contemplative garden is planned near the entrance to the chapel to encourage students to take breaks from digital screens.

"“As with all of our recent campus enhancements, the focus here is on creating a space that brings students together around a shared sense of purpose and community,” said Iona President Seamus Carey, Ph.D. “As teaching and learning undergo seismic shifts with the exponentially increasing power of digital tools, it is imperative for us to cultivate our capacity for independent thinking and attention. The Upper Green will provide outdoor space conducive to this work.”"

The unveiling of The Upper Green builds on Iona's series of campus developments, which include the newly renovated LaPenta School of Business, the expanded Hynes Athletics Center, and the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, among other projects. These initiatives align with President Carey's vision to reimagine student life at Iona University, an institution recognized by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes as one of the top schools in the nation.

Located close to New York City, Iona University is a Catholic institution that was founded in 1940. Its campuses offer a diverse range of programs in the liberal arts, science, and business fields. The university prides itself on maintaining small class sizes and fostering an environment dedicated to academic excellence, justice, peace, and service.