Making the Move to Mann

After more than two decades in Kennedy Hall, the Department of Communication is moving across the Quad to a new home on the fourth floor of Mann Library. Renovation of the space has begun, making way for a layout that values connectivity and cooperation and reflects the evolution of the field in the digital age. At the heart of the design is the Hub (pictured above), a common area filled with moveable workspaces to invite spontaneous interaction, encouraging faculty and students to meet and work together. For the first time, graduate student and department faculty offices will be arranged into “neighborhoods” surrounding research labs. In addition to dedicated laboratories for media effects, intercultural communication and social media, several flex research spaces will welcome ad hoc teams to collaborate. With a $5 million capital campaign underway to fund the remodel, the move is expected to be completed just in time for fall semester.