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Austin’s Malcolm X College campus reopens with room for 2,000 students
A $20 million renovation has expanded Malcolm X College’s West Campus by 50% and added student and community spaces. The Austin campus reopened Saturday under the name Danny K. Davis Community Center, with in-person classes returning ahead of the fall semester’s second half.
Malcolm X College reopened its West Campus in Austin on Saturday after a $20 million expansion and renovation, restoring in-person classes and increasing the site’s capacity by 50%, college officials said.
The campus at 4624 W. Madison St., formerly known as the West Side Learning Center, was renamed the Danny K. Davis Community Center in August in honor of the longtime U.S. representative. The reopening ceremony brought together college leaders, elected officials and community members.
The project, which broke ground in November 2024, adds 3,000 square feet and brings a modernized exterior, recreation and meeting areas, an outdoor patio and free parking. The expanded campus can serve as many as 2,000 students, Malcolm X College President David Sanders said.
Sanders credited Davis with raising more than $30 million to help students attend the college, including through academic support and tuition assistance. Davis represents Illinois’ 7th Congressional District, which includes much of Chicago’s West Side.
The campus offers prerequisite courses in subjects including biology, math and English for students pursuing programs such as nursing and community health. West Campus Dean Barbara Meschino said the college must respond as education and workforce needs change.
For Don Allen, a Malcolm X student in the community health worker program and a West Side native, the reopening represents a closer path to education and job training. He said nearby, affordable options can help residents build skills and prepare for more meaningful work.
The return of classes comes days before City Colleges of Chicago students are scheduled to begin the second half of the fall semester.