Add as a preferred source on Google

Dartmouth Completes New Engineering & Computer Science Center

  • By Matt Jones
  • 06/02/22

Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., recently finished construction on a new academic building for engineering & computer science students. The Class of 1982 Engineering and Computer Science Center (Class of 1982 Center) covers 165,000 square feet, stands four stories (plus a mechanical penthouse and three floors of underground parking), and serves as both the largest construction project in the school’s history and the second-largest academic building on campus, according to a news release.

The new facility includes research and teaching space in fields like bio-tech, energy technologies, cybersecurity and more. “Virtually every device and every piece of hardware have software embedded in them,” said Joseph Helble, former dean of the Thayer School of Engineering. “As a result, bringing computer science and engineering together seamlessly in one facility where students can interact with both faculties without barriers between them is even more important.”

Class of 1982 Engineering and Computer Science Center
Photo credit: HGA and Anton Grassl

Dartmouth partnered with national design firm HGA for the building’s design. The firm incorporated features like glass walls, collaboration spaces and a vast central atrium to give the building a sense of openness and transparency. “At the heart of the Class of 1982 center is an atrium that fosters interaction and collaboration and promotes synergies between fields that spark discovery and innovation,” said HGA Principal Samir Srouji, AIA, LEED AP. “Natural light is brought into the atrium through a series of wooden coffers illuminating the multiple levels of connections and gathering spaces.”

Dartmouth also partnered with contractor Turner Construction Company.

The facility was also designed with sustainability in mind to optimize energy efficiency, water efficiency and occupant well-being. It’s currently registered as LEED v3 for New Construction, and officials are anticipating a LEED Platinum certification.

A full list of collaborators includes:

  • VanZelm Engineers: MEP/FP
  • LeMessurier: Structural
  • Engineering Ventures: Civil
  • Michael Van Valkenburgh: Landscape Architect
  • Mohar Design: Interior Design
  • Cavanaugh Tocci: Audio Visual
  • Acentech: Acoustic/IT/Security
  • Turner Construction Company: Contractor

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • University of Kentucky Receives $150M Gift Toward New Arts District

    The University of Kentucky’s Board of Trustees recently received a $150-million gift from The Bill Gatton Foundation, according to a university news release, to build a new arts district on the campus in Lexington, Ky. The new district will feature a new College of Fine Arts building and a multi-hundred-seat theater, among other amenities.

  • LSU Breaks Ground on $200M Residential Project

    Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., recently broke ground on a new residential complex, according to university news. The South Quad residential project will consist of two buildings and add a total of 1,266 beds for freshmen students. The development comes with a price tag of $200 million, and it’s scheduled to open to students in fall 2027.

  • Armstrong World Industries Acquires Geometrik

    Armstrong World Industries, designer and manufacturer of interior and exterior architectural applications like ceilings, walls, and metal solutions, recently announced its acquisition of Canada-based Geometrik, according to a news release. The British Columbian Geometrik specializes in designing and manufacturing wood acoustical and wall systems.

  • DLR Group Appoints New K–12 Education Practice Leader

    Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that it has named its new global K–12 Education leader, Senior Principal Carmen Wyckoff, AIA, LEED AP, according to a news release. Her teams have members in all 36 of the firm’s offices in the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Europe, and Asia.

Digital Edition