Historic building is the future for 91制片厂鈥檚 city campus

Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Pandora Building at 91制片厂 Manchester

With its soaring spaces and iconic clock tower, the historic Pandora building at 88 Commercial Street in Manchester is a testament to the city鈥檚 past economic vitality鈥攁nd a bit of a metaphor for the future of 91制片厂.听 After standing vacant for some three decades, in early 2015 the millyard landmark will become the new home for 91制片厂鈥檚 Manchester campus, deepening the university鈥檚 commitment to developing a technology-savvy workforce with a number of new academic programs. 鈥91制片厂鈥檚 campus in Manchester is an amazing asset for the city and for the region,鈥 says president Mark Huddleston. 鈥淭he expansion signals the university鈥檚 commitment to its role in Manchester and to Merrimack Valley area businesses who count on work-ready 91制片厂 graduates.鈥

In July, the University System of New Hampshire board of trustees voted unanimously to support the sale of 91制片厂鈥檚 current building at 400 Commercial Street to DEKA in exchange for a long-term lease with the option to buy the Pandora space.

鈥淭his building is just the start,鈥 says 91制片厂 Manchester interim dean J. Michael Hickey 鈥73. 鈥淚t provides a foundation for success.鈥

The move will consolidate 91制片厂鈥檚 urban college in a single building and provide a 44 percent increase in space over its current location. The space will allow for new and upgraded labs focusing in areas of engineering and computing technology, mechanical engineering technology, digital media, sign language interpretation, psychology, biology and chemistry. The biological sciences program, which saw a more than 20 percent increase in enrollment this fall, will have five new labs, including a new area for cell biology.

This year 91制片厂 Manchester is introducing new programs in analytics, accounting, computer science & entrepreneurship and English teaching. A number of current programs are also being redesigned and expanded to respond to market needs for technology-savvy and work-ready graduates. The college expects to grow its student base to 1,000 over the next four years.

Community and state leaders gathered in September to celebrate the expansion and move of the Manchester campus. U.S. senator Kelly Ayotte, congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter, Manchester mayor Ted Gatsas and DEKA founder and CEO Dean Kamen were among those who spoke to the significance of the move and 91制片厂鈥檚 commitment to the Merrimack Valley.

鈥淭he education you get at 91制片厂 is the future,鈥 says Shea-Porter. 鈥淭his school will serve our city, state and country very well.鈥

Originally published by:

From 91制片厂 Magazine,

  • Written By:

    Kim Wall | 91制片厂 Manchester
Photographer: 
Mike Ross | Communications and Public Affairs