Gasps, Sunlight, and a 'New Car' Smell: You Won't Recognize Martin Hall After Its Jaw-Dropping Two-Year Makeover

After more than two years of anticipation, shrouded in construction fencing and mystery, the doors to Martin Hall have finally been thrown open—and what lies inside is leaving the campus community in absolute awe.

Students returning for the fall semester on September 2 were the first to witness the building's radical transformation. Forget the Martin Hall of old; this is a complete rebirth, meticulously engineered to be a vibrant, sun-drenched hub where the future of education is unfolding.

A Shock to the System

The reaction has been nothing short of electric. "When we walked in, we gasped," admitted Bob Rehak, an Associate Professor and the Chair of Film & Media Studies, who was part of the working group that helped shape the building's new identity. "The openness, the sunlight that washes through the building, the way it’s all come together—and it smells like a new car."

That fresh, modern feel is a deliberate and sharp break from the building's past, signaling a new era not just for the structure itself, but for the very disciplines it now houses. The renovation has created an environment that feels less like a traditional academic building and more like a cutting-edge creative studio or tech campus.

A Bold New Mission: Where Code Meets Creativity

This isn't just a facelift; it's a strategic move to dissolve the traditional boundaries between academic fields. The reimagined Martin Hall is now the official home for three distinct but increasingly interconnected departments: Computer Science, Film & Media Studies, and the campus Media Center.

By placing these powerhouses under one roof, the university is making a bold bet on the power of collaboration. The design itself is a catalyst for connection, featuring open common areas and shared spaces intended to spark conversations and spontaneous partnerships. The goal is to create a dynamic ecosystem where a future programmer might collaborate with a budding filmmaker, or a media expert could provide digital tools for a computer science project.

As students and faculty settle into this stunning new space, the true test of its design will begin. Martin Hall is no longer just a place for classes; it's been reborn as an incubator for innovation, a place designed to connect the storytellers with the technologists and forge the next wave of interdisciplinary pioneers.