Preserving History
Completed in 1909, Pence Hall originally housed Physics and Civil Engineering. It was named to honor Merry Pence, chairman of the physics department and the designer of the building. Pence Hall was home to the architecture department and College of Design for many years until its move to the newly renovated Gray Design Building (formerly the Reynolds Building). As part of the University's Asset Preservation initiative, Pence Hall is slated to become the new front door of the College of Communication and Information in Fall 2025.
Process and Timeline
Beginning in Fall 2022, the College of Communication and Information formed a core committee to oversee the Pence Hall Project. The committee consisted of representatives from each area of the College. In the spirit of collaboration, the College hosted two Town Halls on Sept. 22, 2022, and Jan. 25, 2023 as well as smaller group meetings with affected units. As plans were finalized, committee members ensured CI faculty, staff and student voices were heard.
The project has gone through the following phases:
- Pre-Design and Programming
- Schematic Design
- Design Development
- Construction Documents
- Bidding and Negotiation
Construction began in Spring 2024.
Design and Construction Partners
- K. Norman Berry Associates Architects, PLLC | Architect of Record
- Messer Construction | General Contractors
- KFI | Engineer
- Brown + Kubican, PSC | Structural Engineer
- ELEMENT | Civil Engineering and Landscape Architecture