CAMPUS
7 acres of inspiration
Visit our beautiful campus nestled in a cozy rockford neighborhood
The campus of Womanspace is a place for creativity, reflection, and connection in Rockford, IL. Set on seven acres of gardens, forest, and prairie, the campus includes welcoming indoor spaces for art classes, wellness programs, yoga, meetings, and community gatherings, along with outdoor areas open to the public during daylight hours.
Each part of the campus offers a different way to gather, learn, and slow down, whether attending a class, visiting an art exhibit, walking the labyrinth, or spending time on the grounds.
The main building is the heart of Womanspace and the center of many programs and events in Rockford, IL. It is home to exhibitions, classes, meetings, and spaces for quiet reflection and movement.
This building includes:
- The Loretta & William Reif Gallery
- Staff offices
- Holistic Health Room
- Yoga studio
- Library
The heart of Womanspace
Main Building
New Dimensions Studio
Our Creative Center
The New Dimensions Studio is a dedicated creative space designed to support hands-on exploration and shared learning. It offers room to work with materials, learn new skills, and come together in community.
This building includes:

- A clay studio
- A painting studio and meeting space
Grounds
Our Nature Connection
The grounds are an essential part of the Womanspace campus experience. These outdoor spaces invite people to wander, pause, and reconnect with nature in the midst of Rockford.
The grounds are open to the public during daylight hours.
Grounds include:
Several gardens
A pine forest and restored prairie
The Anjali Pavilion
A walking labyrinth
Campus History
1975
Womanspace opened its operations on Spring Brook Road, renting a small apartment from School Sisters of St. Francis (SSSF). The apartment was above the garages of the Mount St. Francis convent, adjacent to Womanspace’s present location. The original Womanspace art studio was located in the basement of the convent.
1976
The name of the convent building was changed to "Maria Linden," and the addresses of that building and the current Womanspace office building were changed from Spring Brook Road to Maria Linden Drive.
1978
Womanspace began leasing the 10-room ranch-style home from SSSF. This home was originally built in 1963 as a chaplain’s house when the large building had been a convent. This house became the lasting home for Womanspace. Dorothy Bock and Elaine Hirschenberger, the Co-Founders and Co-Directors, lived in the building from 1978 to 2007.
1992
New Dimensions Studio was built and dedicated. The Womanspace art program tripled in size with multiple offerings in clay work, painting and drawing, as well as regular children’s art classes. The lower level of New Dimensions was used as the main Womanspace gallery, showcasing many exhibits for 17 years.
1996
Womanspace purchased and acquired title to its two buildings and seven acres of property from the School Sisters of St. Francis. This occurred when the SSSF sold the large building and the remaining acreage to an outside entity. That property was then re-named Cor Mariae Center.
2000
The Lilly Fernandez Memorial Meditation Garden was created and dedicated. This garden, maintained entirely by Womanspace volunteers, was a gift from Sunil Puri recognizing a woman important to his family of origin in Mumbai, India.
2003
The Womanspace Labyrinth was completed after three years of work by volunteers and dedicated on 9/22/2003. This walking meditation path was conceived as a gift to the Rockford community and welcomes visitors, free of charge, during daylight hours. Womanspace’s Chartres-style Labyrinth is the largest in northern Illinois and is on the National Labyrinth registry.
2007
The interior of the main Womanspace building was opened and expanded to create a more welcoming entrance. The Gallery2Go exhibition space was created to feature creative works by Womanspace artists. Dorothy and Elaine moved to a private residence to create four more offices for Womanspace.
2009
The art gallery was relocated from the lower level of New Dimensions to the main building as Womanspace’s premier exhibition and meeting space. Named in honor of major benefactor Bill Reif in 2013, it was renamed the Loretta & William Reif Gallery in 2024 to honor both Loretta and Bill.
2010
The lower level of New Dimensions Studio was retrofitted and repurposed as a fully functional Clay Studio.
2011
The Anjali Pavilion, a gift from Sunil Puri and the Puri Foundation, was built and dedicated, further enriching the campus by providing an outdoor place for gathering and activities.
Womanspace rents select indoor and outdoor spaces for meetings, workshops, retreats, and special events in Rockford, IL. Our campus offers a peaceful, inspiring setting for meaningful gatherings. More information about rentals, availability, and guidelines can be found on our Rentals page.
Share the Womanspace experience
Rentals
Accessibility
Main Building
A ramp is available inside the garage for access to the main level. Please call Womanspace ahead of time or upon arrival for ramp access.
The yoga studio and library on the lower level are not currently accessible for people with walking disabilities.
New Dimensions Studio
A chair lift is available on the stairs to the lower level clay studio.
Programs, Events, & Exhibits
Because activities take place in different locations across campus, we encourage participants to inquire about accessibility before or during registration.
