Marist College has officially broken ground on a major expansion and renovation of the Dyson Center, the home of the College’s Schools of Management and Social and Behavioral Sciences. Members of the academic administration, student body, and other dignitaries, led by Marist Trustee and Dyson Foundation Chair Rob Dyson, put shovels in the ground in July for the $60 million project, paving the way for a facility that will serve as a campus centerpiece and will double the size of the former building.
The construction project is supported by a lead gift from the Dyson Foundation. Founded in 1957 and based in Dutchess County, the Dyson Foundation works to improve people’s lives through grant funding, promoting philanthropy, and strengthening the capacity of nonprofit organizations.
The new Dyson Center, rendering courtesy of Ann Beha Architects, now Annum Architects.
“I have been in the unique position to watch the incredible growth of Marist over four decades," said Dyson, a past chair of Marist’s Board of Trustees. “It heartens me that the new Dyson Center will be a centerpiece of learning and collaboration for many years to come.”
The original Dyson Center opened in 1990. The expansion and renovation have been designed by the internationally recognized firm Annum Architects (formerly Ann Beha Architects). The new facility will feature state-of-the-art classrooms; faculty offices; a 150-seat tiered lecture hall; and labs for student–faculty research, especially in the areas of cognitive, developmental, and social psychology.
The building will also boast a number of multipurpose collaboration spaces for student and faculty use and will incorporate many sustainable elements, reflecting the College’s long-standing commitment to the environment. There will also be expansive new common areas, including an atrium with a soaring ceiling, a café, a lounge, and abundant social and collaborative space.
The Collaborative Study Center in the new Dyson Center. Rendering courtesy of Ann Beha Architects, now Annum Architects.
The new Dyson Center will bring a wealth of new resources to the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the School of Management. Within the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, teacher education students will have a new STEM classroom with an adjoining creative space. Psychology, criminal justice, and pre-law students will also be able to use unique learning spaces.
The School of Management will include an expanded Student Investment Center with a professional trading floor providing the same technology found on Wall Street. It will also house the school’s Advising Center and the Bureau of Economic Research.
“The new Dyson Center will be an inspiring place for teaching, learning, research, and collaboration,” said Marist President Kevin Weinman. “With its beautiful design, central location, and ample public space for socializing, group study, and individual work and reflection, students of all disciplines will benefit from this truly transformative facility. My sincerest thanks to Rob Dyson and everyone at the Dyson Foundation, Ann Beha, Marist’s Board of Trustees, and President Emeritus Dennis Murray for their work over many years to bring this vision to life.”
“The new Dyson Center will have specialized spaces for psychology labs, a mock courtroom, a command center, a therapy suite, a K–12 teacher training lab, maker space, and general classrooms configured to maximize current best practices for college instruction,” said Dr. Deborah Gatins, dean of Marist’s School of Social and Behavioral Sciences. “I look forward to even more exciting faculty and student collaboration on projects and research.”
“For School of Management students, this building will create new opportunities to learn in an attractive environment,” said Dr. Will Lamb, dean of Marist’s School of Management. “The classrooms are designed to allow our faculty and staff to adapt the layouts to the subject being taught. The new homes for our Investment Center and the Center for Career Services will help students prepare for and launch their careers in exciting new ways. The building will elevate the student experience and help us continue to attract the best and the brightest.”
The mock courtroom in the new Dyson Center. Rendering courtesy of Ann Beha Architec.ts, now Annum Architects.
The Center for Career Services, which offers a variety of programs and resources to assist Marist students and alumni in setting career goals and gaining employment, will also be housed in the Dyson Center.
“The Center for Career Services is incredibly excited about the new Dyson Center, along with its centralized location giving us a beautiful venue for hosting career and internship fairs, networking events, peer mentoring sessions, alumni/employer panel discussions, and more,” said Mary Jones, executive director for the Center for Career Services. “We look forward to continuing to help Marist students achieve their career goals in this reimagined campus centerpiece.”
The new Dyson Center includes a number of environmentally sustainable initiatives including the adaptive reuse of the existing foundation and structure, highly insulated walls, a high-efficiency HVAC system, and a roof featuring living vegetation installed on top.
The building is expected to open in spring 2024. For more photos of the groundbreaking and renderings of the design, visit marist.edu/dyson.
A wide array of naming opportunities are available throughout the building. To learn more, please contact Chris DelGiorno, vice president for college advancement, chris.delgiorno@marist.edu