The area around the reflecting pool in front of the Hesburgh Library is undergoing refurbishing to honor esteemed professors throughout Notre Dame's history.

The commemorative site will honor all endowed professorships and will feature a new granite-clad concrete seating wall, on which the names of endowed chairs will be etched.

"It is fitting to honor the professors in this way since they are the heart of academic life at this University," said Jim Lyphout, vice president of Business Operations and head of the project.

The project has been funded in part by an anonymous $8 million gift to establish the Edward Frederick Sorin Program for Academic Distinction, comprising new endowed professorships which are devoted to excellence in the six colleges and schools of the University. Along with additional funding by the University, the Sorin Program now totals $15 million in support for these endowed chairs.

A University committee decided that this site should be built to honor all Notre Dame endowed chairs and the tradition of excellence in teaching and scholarship they represent. A local architect worked with the University to design the site to both beautify this area of campus and honor these esteemed professors.

Notre Dame currently has 125 endowed professorships and will add as many as 45 more through the "Generations" campaign.

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