If you’ve been on the Kent Campus this summer you’ve undoubtedly noticed the considerable construction projects, including new buildings, renovations to existing facilities and improvements to several parking lots. Here’s a recap of what’s been happening, including several department moves.
Buildings and Moves
The new Center for Architecture and Environmental Design will be open for classes this fall. Home to academic programs in the College of Architecture and Environmental Design, the building is located at 132 S. Lincoln St., along the Lefton Esplanade. Staff of the College of Architecture and Environmental Design have moved into the new building, and the contact information for departments and offices has not changed.
Work continues on the new Integrated Sciences Building and renovations to the three existing science buildings. Smith Hall renovations will be finished in time for the start of fall classes, including the Planetarium. Labs and offices temporarily housed in University Library will move back to Smith Hall. The majority of Cunningham and Williams halls will be open for fall classes, while renovations continue in other areas of both buildings. All work on the science facilities will be completed in July 2017.
Taylor Hall will be closed for renovations during the upcoming academic year. Because of this, several departments have relocated:
- The School of Communication Studies will be housed in the former Art Building (located next to the new Center for the Visual Arts) for the 2016-17 school year, and will return to Taylor Hall for the following academic year.
- Offices for the dean of the College of the Arts will make a permanent move to Cartwright Hall, in the space formerly occupied by the Division of Research and Sponsored Programs.
- The School of Visual Communication Design will remain in the former Art Building for the 2016-17 academic year and will move to its permanent home in Taylor Hall when renovations are done.
The Division of Research and Sponsored Programs has moved from Cartwright Hall to the second floor of the Schwartz Center. The division is now located in two suites across from each other, in the same hallway as the Office of Enrollment Management, up the steps from the Admissions Office, on the Morris Road side of the building. All phone numbers remain the same.
Parking Lots
The newly renovated Kent Student Center Visitor and Schwartz Center (R12) parking lots will be open by Aug. 29. The new lots will feature an enhanced landscape; maximized parking spaces with increased widths; prominent crosswalks and boulevard sidewalks to improve pedestrian access and safety, and easy drop-off access to University Library, Kent Student Center and Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center (MAC Center).
More parking spaces have been added through an expansion of the Commuter Parking lot behind Terrace Hall (78 more spaces) and a paved parking lot at the corner of Main and Lincoln streets, which will provide approximately 70 more spaces. Plans also are underway for another parking lot in the Science Corridor area for spring 2017.
