Bentley University students, faculty, and administrators celebrated the reopening of Jennison Hall following a fast-track, $22.5 Million laboratory and classroom renovation designed by Boston-based ARC/Architectural Resources Cambridge. The ARC design provides a diverse mix of new learning, social, lab, and office spaces. Built in 1966, Jennison Hall with its 33 classrooms is the largest teaching facility on the University’s Waltham, Massachusetts campus.
The original plan for Jennison Hall’s renovation was to design and build out the 85,000 square-foot project in phases. To save the University the time, cost, and disruption of an ongoing construction project spanning several years, the team developed a creative alternative strategy to complete the construction in less than seven months. This was accomplished by taking the entire building out of service last summer and Fall, relocating classes throughout the campus, and using a fast-track approach. The renovation was completed in time for the January start of spring semester. Consigli Construction Company is the construction manager, and CSL Consulting is the Owner’s Project Manager.
“The new Jennison Hall teaching and research labs embody the latest thinking in innovative science teaching and learning,” said Rick Oches, Ph.D., Chair of the Department of Natural & Applied Sciences. “ARC’s design creates a dynamic new learning environment with interdisciplinary laboratories, high-tech classrooms, and interactive social spaces that encourage team-based activities and collaboration. The renovations create an ideal environment to support Bentley’s curricular fusion of the liberal arts and sciences with business.”
The transformed interiors feature transparency and flexibility, with glass walls and daylit rooms that place science investigation and teaching on display. To fulfill the goal of integrating science into a business curriculum, the new layout at Jennison Hall locates three new, multidisciplinary science instructional labs for chemistry, physics, biology, and Earth and environmental sciences, providing a more collaborative and flexible teaching environment.
Adjoining the science labs is a new “dry” laboratory, modeled after Bentley University’s popular MBA Studio and called a collaboratory. The collaboratory provides a team-based, flexible learning environment to supplement the more traditional “wet” instructional labs. A variety of teaching spaces, including both active learning classrooms and tiered case study classrooms, occupy the remaining three floors of the building. Teaming areas, social interaction niches, and quiet study spaces throughout the building offer a variety of student experiences. Additionally, the Office of Academic Services for both undergraduate and graduate students was relocated to Jennison Hall to better meet student needs.
Sustainable design features include an energy recovery system for laboratory make-up air and exhaust air, occupancy sensors managing lab ventilation and classroom heating and lighting, FSC-certified wood, enhanced views, daylighting strategies and LED lighting.
“One of our goals in planning and designing this renovation was to provide the University with a building capable of changing as quickly as contemporary science, technology, and teaching are developing,” said ARC principal Rob Quigley. “With its adaptable infrastructure and flexible options for configuring labs and classroom, the new Jennison Hall will readily accommodate changing program needs.”
