Event celebrates Bachelor Hall renovations, naming of Altman Institute for the Humanities
Ceremony is Sept.25 at 2 p.m.; open house will include tours, interactive exhibits
Event celebrates Bachelor Hall renovations, naming of Altman Institute for the Humanities
Ceremony is Sept.25 at 2 p.m.; open house will include tours, interactive exhibits
When Renée Baernstein walks through the renovated Bachelor Hall, the dean of the College of Arts and Science (CAS) sees a vibrant, bustling facility packed full of ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University students and faculty members utilizing the building’s many study spaces, conference rooms, and areas designed to bring people together.
Bachelor Hall is back in business following its two-year renovation process. Improvements helped consolidate space and modernize classrooms, setting the stage for a refreshed hub for the humanities at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú.
A is scheduled for Sept. 25. Part of that week’s Homecoming festivities, the 2 p.m. ceremony brings together students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the university to recognize the evolution of Bachelor Hall.
“This is a project that has been near and dear to my heart since its inception in 2019,” Baernstein said. “President Crawford established a vision for a humanities hub at that location, and we were able to realize that vision. Seeing it come to life now has been incredible.”
President Gregory Crawford, Baernstein, and Tim Melley, director of the Altman Institute of the Humanities, will speak at the event.
Guests can also tour the facility during the open house, and several stations showcasing Bachelor Hall and the work being done throughout CAS will be on display with interactive exhibits and demonstrations.
“The remarkable renovation of Bachelor Hall is an integral part of our mission to provide ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University students with the knowledge, tools and skills they need to become leaders in a global society,” President Crawford said. “We are thrilled to highlight and celebrate this essential and transformational step forward in our commitment to the humanities and Media, Journalism, and Film (MJF). This investment ensures that the humanities and MJF will continue to be a vibrant and indispensable part of ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú for years to come.”
Bachelor Hall houses the departments of English; History; Media, Journalism, and Film; and Philosophy, as well as the Altman Institute for the Humanities, the American Culture and English Program, and the Ohio Writing Project.
New features to the building include a modern TV studio; the Bachelor Great Room, a 68-person multifunctional space for events and teaching; a dedicated event space for the Altman Institute for the Humanities; and an atrium, a four-story space that provides visual and physical connectivity to the core of the building.
With 20 classrooms and 141 offices, Bachelor Hall’s square footage has expanded from 112,000 to 120,418. This is the first major refurbishment to the facility in its nearly 50-year history.
“We are committed at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú to the support of a thriving, vibrant, and successful humanities community,” Baernstein said. “The building is full of huddle spaces, study rooms, and community rooms that encourage people to work together.”
also commemorates the naming of the Altman Institute for the Humanities. Announced last fall, the new name is in recognition of Class of 1960 alumnus John W. Altman`s longtime support of the humanities at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú.
Previously known as the Humanities Center, the Altman Institute for the Humanities helps foster collaboration, pedagogical innovation, and new research across the humanities and beyond.
Altman’s support of the humanities includes a $1.5 million matching gift, which has the potential to raise a total of $3 million for the Altman Institute and a new Curriculum Fund. This will expand programming to equip students with crucial skills for the technological age through research apprenticeships, applied-learning labs, and student-driven projects.
“The Altman Institute for the Humanities is the beating heart and soul of Bachelor Hall,” Baernstein said. “It’s on the main floor, right on the atrium, with interdepartmental events, seminars, and work groups that bring people together. Having it featured and visible there is perfect.”
Being part of Homecoming week also adds to the excitement.
“That’s a really fun element,” Baernstein said. “Alumni who are back on campus for Homecoming will have the chance to interact with what we’re doing with this academic space. It’s going to be a terrific day.”