Summer 2024 marked the beginning of several renovation projects to Heersink School of Medicine’s Volker Hall. The current projects will modernize the building and its technology offerings for medical students and faculty. As construction continues in various areas of the building, we are pleased to share renderings of two major renovation efforts.
Volker Hall Atrium Project
In June, renovation to Volker Hall’s new atrium began. Made possible by a gift from the Heersink Family Foundation, the atrium will provide a fresh, modern look and feel, adding a brand-new entrance facing University Boulevard. This will be the first street-level entrance off University Boulevard for Volker Hall in recent history. Completion is scheduled in late summer/early fall of 2025.
Exterior rendering of Volker Hall Atrium
Exterior rendering of Volker Hall Atrium at night
The atrium will include all-new furniture and light fixtures, new student relaxation and study areas, plantings, and a coffee bar. We look forward to being able to show interior renderings soon, following final selections of furniture and finishes.
Lecture Halls
Construction to Lecture Hall E began in July, and renovations to the other lecture rooms will commence in August 2024. All renovations are scheduled to be completed by October 2024. Lecture Hall E is receiving the most substantial work, with new lighting, seating, screens, and ceiling repairs.
Rendering of Lecture Hall E
The technology updates to Lecture Hall E will also be implemented in the rest of the lecture rooms as well. New cameras, podium equipment, and confidence monitors will be installed in all lecture rooms. A new Wi-Fi system will also be implemented, with access points placed strategically underneath some seating (a system utilized in football stadiums) to ensure a stronger, more consistent connection for the plethora of devices signed into the network simultaneously each day.
In addition to these two major projects, the new Volker Hall conference room renovation is now underway, inhabiting the space previously known as the “airport lounge.” This new conference space is replacing the Palmisano Conference Room, which will be going offline due to construction on the connector skybridge that will span 16th St. The skybridge is designed to connect the new research building with an expanded animal resource program in the basement of Volker.
We look forward to updating you further on these projects and the others that will begin shortly.