Chapman University’s efforts to revamp its campuses appear to be paying off with a record numbers of applications. More than 15,000 incoming freshmen applied for enrolment this year, up from the 14,000 applications the school received in 2020. The boost in applicants come as Chapman moves forward with new developments its officials say will benefit the greater Orange County community. During an April 1 event hosted by the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, Chapman University president Daniele Struppa shared updates on the school’s new facilities. The school broke ground on its Fowler School of Engineering, Swenson Family Hall at the Keck Center last June, and expects construction on the 40,000 square-foot facility to be complete in July. The $19 million facility features an open space where faculty and students can interact in labs. “This is going to be a spectacular institution,” Struppa said. “There is no great school in the nation that doesn’t have a strength in the …