Dyson Center Ceremoniously Opens Its Doors

The remodeled Dyson Center formally opened this past Friday with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting event.

President Kevin C. Weinman, Rob Dyson and family, Dr. Will Lamb, Dr. Deborah Gatins and members of the Board of Trustees outside the Dyson Center for the ribbon cutting ceremony. Credit: Photo by Elizabeth Baumgardner '25

Though already opened for classes, the remodeled Dyson Center formally opened its doors on Sept. 13 with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting event.

Following the ribbon cutting, students, faculty, family and alumni were welcomed inside to explore the new 110,000-square-foot state-of-the-art building.

“It was a pretty emotional experience when everybody walked through the door,” said Rob Dyson, chairman of the Dyson Foundation and long-time member of the Board of Trustees.

The original Dyson Center, which opened in 1990, stood at half the size as it now does following the transformation. At the time of its building, Dyson and Marist College had no plans to ever rebuild it.

“At the time, we built the best building we could with the money that we had,” said Dyson.

As the school grew and expanded over the past three decades, the Dyson Center fittingly grew with it.

Before the ribbon cutting, an array of speakers spoke to the large audience of Marist students — past and present — in attendance, highlighted by Marist President Kevin C. Weinman and Dyson. In his speech, Weinman credited former President Dennis Murray, who was in attendance, for his vision of the Marist campus four decades ago.

“So much of what we have here today is because of what he did as president, and he continues to be a really important member of our community, and I am really grateful of his presence,” said Weinman.

Though the ribbon cutting and speakers acted as the main event, it was an action-packed day at the Dyson Center, beginning with “Donuts with the Deans” in the atrium at 10 a.m. Students were welcomed to grab a quick breakfast with Dr. Will Lamb, dean of the School of Management, and Dr. Deborah Gatins, dean of the School of Social & Behavioral Sciences.

The Center of Career Services recently moved to the Dyson Center and hosted a two-hour drop-in window, where students had the opportunity to have their resumes and cover letters reviewed.

The day’s events also featured interactive events for all in attendance, such as trivia and a scavenger hunt, where participants had the opportunity to win prizes.

Lastly, following the ribbon cutting, all in attendance were welcomed to take self-guided tours of the building, with students scattered throughout to help point out special features of the Dyson Center.

With the ceremonious day now in the books, the Marist community is looking forward to making the most of its time in the Dyson Center. At any time during the school day, the atrium and upper levels are filled with students working, chatting or relaxing as they prepare for their next class.

“I am most excited to have a new area close to my housing where I can do work, but also socialize with my friends,” said Erin Novobilsky ‘26.

The Dyson Center is already a campus hotspot, and that will only increase once Saxby’s, a student-run cafe, opens on Sept. 24. Now that the renovation process is finally complete, it is ready to become a fixture on campus. 

“To finally see it in reality and see it come to fruition, to walk in the space, it’s just jaw dropping in ways that you can’t ready yourself for,” said Weinman. “Nothing can do it justice…you really have to be here to experience it.”