Fifth-Floor Classrooms Get a Facelift

Construction crews were in full force on the fifth floor of the CGS building this summer—continuing Dean Linda Wells’s vision of renovating the building during the summer months, when it’s generally not being used by students.

This year classrooms got much-needed attention. The large fifth-floor classroom (Room 515) was stripped entirely and refurbished with new walls, flooring, and furniture. The more dramatic work, however, was the conversion of two classrooms (Rooms 525 and 527) into one larger case-style classroom that is entirely wireless.

The converted classroom (pictured above) now has five tiers of single-row fixed tables with seating that accommodates more than 60 students, including four wheelchair-accessible locations in the first row. The room is fully equipped for high-definition audio and video, with a video-conferencing system that will provide opportunities for distance learning. The room’s walls are finished in fabric-wrapped acoustic panels and hardwood paneling, giving it a formal aesthetic while providing good acoustic characteristics. The state-of-the-art classroom is used by the department chairs for their regular classes.

Past summer renovation projects include the 2008 makeover of the CGS lobby, the 2006 construction of the Marilyn and Jeffrey Katzenberg Center, and the 2005 renovation and dedication of the Brendan F. Gilbane Study Lounge.