On May 27, 1998 the University acquired the former St. Vincent’s Seminary buildings and grounds overlooking the riverfront. This was made possible due to a donation by Mr. William Winford “B.W.” Harrison. Mr. Harrison made the donation specifically for the acquisition on the condition that the main building and grounds would continue to be used for educational purposes. In 2007, a major renovation and construction project was completed and the new River Campus was opened.

The Seminary Building was completed in 1835 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building houses the Robert F. and Gertrude L. Shuck Music Recital Hall and the Art Resource Center (ARC).

The Cultural Arts Center, completed in 2007, houses the Rosemary Berkel and Harry L. Crisp II Museum, the Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall, the Wendy Kurka Rust Flexible Theatre, the John and Betty Glenn Convocation Center, as well as classrooms, offices, studios, and workshops of the Earl and Margie Holland School of Visual and Performing Arts.

The Ken and Jeanine Dobbins River Campus Center Residence Hall was built across from the Seminary Building to form a quadrangular plaza. It was completed in the summer of 2014.