Renovated Bell Hall Reopens with New Labs, Collaborative Learning Spaces

Bell Hall, the primary classroom and laboratory building for Southgate's natural sciences departments, reopened this month following a two-year, $18 million renovation. The building now features eight new teaching laboratories, a shared instrumentation suite, and several flexible classrooms designed for small-group work.

The renovation preserved the building's original 1931 facade while replacing outdated mechanical systems and adding a glass-enclosed atrium that connects the building's two wings. Construction was funded through a combination of university bonds and a lead gift from a longtime trustee.

"Our science faculty have been teaching around aging infrastructure for years," said Provost Steven Aldrete. "This building finally matches the quality of the work happening inside it."

Faculty in biology, chemistry, and physics moved back into the building over the summer, and the shared instrumentation suite is expected to support research across all three departments as well as the College of Engineering & Computing.