St. John Fisher College is moving ahead with construction of a new chapel. It is a 9,000-square-foot sanctuary that will be built adjacent to Kearney Hall.
It's named the Hermance Family Chapel, and the $3.34 million building is being funded entirely by philanthropic efforts, led by a gift from the Hermance Family Foundation.
Kris Brown Hermance made the grant in honor of her late husband, Ronald Hermance Jr., who passed away in 2014. He was chairman and CEO of Hudson City Bancorp, which was acquired by M&T Bank in 2015. Hermance earned a bachelor's degree from Fisher and was involved with the college for many years, including a tenure on the Board of Trustees.
Fisher President Gerard Rooney says the project will realize the founding Basilian Fathers' early vision for the college's footprint, which included a chapel on the main axis of the campus.
A groundbreaking ceremony will be held in July.
