Miller Bicentennial Hall Dedication Oct. 22 at 5 pm
The dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony for Kimball Union’s Miller Bicentennial Hall will take place today at 5 pm.
The humanities center, which represents Phase 1 of the renovation project of the Miller building, includes 14 new classrooms fully-outfitted with state-of-the-art technology suites including Smart™ Boards, High Definition projectors, audio-recording and video-conferencing capabilities on the horizon. Designed to offer faculty and students access to one another and to ideas, beautifully-appointed rooms include Harkness™-style tables and modular works stations. Tutorial rooms, a multi-media seminar room, a technology lab, and departmental offices offer additional flexibility for small and larger classes and discussion groups. A centerpiece of the facility is the Pacific Culture Room designed by alumnus Eric O’Leary ’67, internationally-recognized-ceramist, sculptor, and designer and owner of Tariki Studios in Meriden, NH. The room’s intricate design and unique features celebrate the long tradition of education Kimball Union has had with Korean, Japanese, and more recently Chinese students, families, and alumni.
“Our new humanities center affirms Kimball Union’s mission and values and commitment to being on the cutting edge of technology. It provides our students with access tools they need 21st century learning and exchange of ideas,” said Head of School Mike Schafer.
Built in 1961, the Miller building was named in honor of KUA alumnus, Charles Ransom Miller, editor of the New York Times for 39 years. The iconic structure has served the school as a kitchen and dining hall and student center, but had recently become underutilized space. During KUA’s master planning process, a space and usage analysis identified the critical need for additional classrooms. In keeping with the school’s sustainability initiatives, the opportunity to repurpose an existing building while making environmentally-sensitive improvements to its aging infrastructure became an ideal solution.
The repurposing of Miller has also provided opportunities to make significant environmentally-sensitive improvements to its aging infrastructure in keeping with the school’s sustainability initiatives. A new high-quality thermal envelope includes foam insulation, air barriers, and new thermal pane windows., and it is anticipated that it will reduce energy consumption for the building by 75-85% and greenhouse gas emissions by more than 200,000 pounds. Classroom lighting systems that harvest natural light automatically dim to adjust to available daylight. Sustainable materials such as linoleum, as well as regionally quarried, low- maintenance materials like slate were used for floor coverings. 50% of the demolition materials were recycled, and low VOC paints and sealants were used throughout the building.
The new building also is completely ADA compliant and features completely updated life safety systems .
The project was designed by UK Architects of Hanover, NH. Students participated in the design and building committee and helped to make many key decisions as they learned first-hand the complexities of a building project of this scope.
Through the Kimball Union’s bicentennial campaign, IMPACT, the school has successfully raised $4.5 million for the first phase of the project and will continue to fundraise while the project is underway. The total cost of the complete project, which will include a new library and learning center, is $7 million.
