As a part of the Knowledge Economy Education Plan for New Hampshire (KEEP-NH), Kingsbury Hall is undergoing major renovations to modernize the facilities of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEPS).

Built in 1950, Kingsbury Hall was in desperate need of revamping before the $52.98 million project was started in 2004. The construction management company Skanska USA is in charge of the renovations.

The project consists of two phases in which 50 percent of the original building was removed and rebuilt, while the other 50 percent of the building is being gutted and renovated. Phase I, which saw the completion of a new 45,000 square foot wing, was finished in January this year, while the university expects Phase II to be completed on March 1, 2007.

“The building has been brought up to modern day standards,” said associate dean of CEPS Robert Henry. According to Henry, the building had no capacity for air conditioning or ventilation, which proved to be a major problem during the year’s warmer months. “The old building didn’t have enough power to run the computers,” he continued.

Among Kingsbury’s added features are new classrooms and offices, an additional 4,500 square feet of lab space, and a new lecture hall in the South Lobby, outfitted with high-tech presentation equipment.

“The labs have been brought up to date,” said Henry. “They are designed not just for today, but for the future.”
The UNH Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science Library will also grow from approximately 4,800 square feet to 11,000 square feet. It will include new conference rooms, which will give students added space to work on group projects, said Henry.