Reimagining an academic building

Bentley University

Jennison Hall is Bentley University’s primary academic building. Driven to prepare students for an Innovation Economy, the University chose to modernize and completely overhaul the 85,000 SF building rather than build new. The project included complete renovation of laboratories, classrooms, support spaces and related administrative and office areas. With careful and detailed planning by the design and construction team and Bentley, the building was taken off-line for only one academic semester and construction was completed on a fast-track, six-month schedule to accommodate the start of winter term.

Presentation Mode

Gaining Popularity

Prior to its renovation, it was judged by students and faculty as the most disliked building on campus because of its dark and outdated interior. The comfortable study and lounge spaces provided throughout the building now welcome students, and Jennison Hall is bustling with activity at all times of the day.

The new design puts science on display, providing state-of the-art science classrooms for multiple disciplines including chemistry, physics, geology, and biology on the building first floor.

Tiered case-study classrooms and flexible, active learning classrooms, dedicated to business and liberal arts curricula and equipped with the most up-to-date A/V technology, occupy the three floors above the science hub.

Jennison Hall embodies the latest thinking in natural and applied sciences pedagogy while also providing an adaptable infrastructure to support future flexibility and changing programmatic needs.

Faculty Research Lab

A new faculty research lab, instructional lab support space, and office space for lab techs are also provided.

Collaborative study spaces

A variety of informal interactive and quiet study spaces dispersed throughout the building, student team rooms and a student resource room enhance the out-of-classroom experience for students.

Photography: Robert Benson Photography; Matt Delphenich Architectural Photography

Project

Jennison Hall Renovation at Bentley University

Location

Waltham, MA

Size

85,000 SF