$60 Million Dyson Center Renovation Approved
The design plan for the lounge and atrium in the new Dyson Center. Source: Courtesy of Marist College
The Marist College Board of Trustees has approved the 60 million dollar renovation project for the Dyson Center. The facility is being funded in part by a lead gift from the Dyson Foundation.
Construction for the new building is set to begin in June following Commencement. If the plan goes accordingly, the college hopes to have the new Dyson Center finished in early 2024.
Opened in 1990, the Dyson Center houses the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the School of Management. Over the past 30 years, the Dyson Center has operated with only minor renovations to its offices and classrooms.
Not only will Dyson house the Schools of Management and Social and Behavioral Sciences, but it will also become the new home of Marist’s Center for Career Services. With a new and open-concept office, the Center for Career Services will be a more inviting place for students to visit throughout their college journey.
“We envision a first-class academic building that is a hub of ideas and intellectual exchange,” Vice President for Academic Affairs Thomas Wermuth said. “In planning the new Dyson Center, we wanted to ensure ample workspace for student collaboration, a signature aspect of a Marist education.”
When complete, the Dyson Center will double in size, going from 54,000 square feet to 110,000 square feet. The new facility will be designed by the internationally recognized firm Ann Beha Architects and will have similar architectural elements to other buildings on campus. The building will feature a 150-seat lecture hall, state-of-the-art classrooms and special research labs for cognitive, developmental and social psychology.
“We are extremely excited for the immense potential that this project offers for the Marist student experience,” Dean of Students Deb DiCaprio said. “With its central location on campus, this new space invites students from all disciplines to gather and socialize together.”
With only a little over a semester under his belt as President at Marist, Dr. Kevin C. Weinman has helped pave the way for the renovation. The new Dyson Center will feature sustainable design elements to continue sustainability efforts on campus. The building will have environmentally-friendly and locally sourced materials and a green roof.
A green roof is partially or completely covered with vegetation and gets planted over a waterproofing membrane. Green roofs are effective in helping the environment with benefits such as stormwater management, energy, biodiversity and roof longevity.
“The reimagined Dyson Center will be a campus centerpiece, with state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, learning, research, socialization and collaboration,” said Weinman. “This project represents a bold investment in Marist’s future that will provide all Marist students with an outstanding educational experience to prepare them for successful lives and careers.”
Additionally, to give students the most modern and realistic experience, the Student Investment Center will be moved from the Hancock Center to the Dyson Center. The new building will feature an atrium with a soaring ceiling, a café, a large lounge and various collaborative and social spaces.
“In approving this project, the Board of Trustees is signaling its confidence, both in the high quality of a Marist education and in the future of the College,” says Board Chair Ross Mauri. “We’re excited for the possibilities this project opens up and are gratified to know that the new Dyson Center will benefit Marist students for decades to come.”