News 2016: Charlton Learning Pavilion ready to embrace students

The technology-rich environment is designed to enhance teaching and learning experience

Less than two years ago, UMass Dartmouth broke ground to begin construction for a $15-million Charlton expansion. Last summer, construction of the new Charlton Learning Pavilion commenced. This week, it’s open for business.

The new Pavilion adjoins the existing Charlton College of Business building and comprises 22,000-sq. ft. of critically needed space, including high-tech classrooms, a business innovation center, a grand auditorium, and various study areas.

The three-tier, state-of-the-art Pavilion was strategically designed to provide students and faculty with an inspiring, technology-rich environment for teaching and learning.

“The new building is totally focused on students,” says UMass Dartmouth Construction Manager Mike Hayes. The Pavilion will promote a sense of community, enhance the overall student experience, and encourage meaningful interactions between faculty and students via seminar rooms, public spaces, technology labs and general classrooms with proximity close to faculty offices.

Additionally, the new space will enhance the graduate programs by providing space that accommodates the particular needs of students such as teamwork space, expanded technology facilities, and web-based data outlets.

For example, the first floor includes a student business innovation center, a lounge area with ample seating as well as a fire place where students can meet, socialize, and collaborate.

The second and third floors consist of student organization suites and classrooms as well as grand corridors bordered with an all-glass wall, which allows natural lighting to flow through the hallways as students and faculty venture to and from the faculty offices in the existing building.

The new space will facilitate an ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship by promoting collaboration between students, faculty, staff and the SouthCoast community.

“Since all three floors of the Learning Pavilion are connected with the existing building that houses the offices of our faculty, staff and college administrators, the new facility will greatly increase student interaction with professors and staff,” said Angappa Gunasekaran, Dean of UMass Dartmouth’s Charlton College of Business.

“The new space will facilitate an ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship by promoting collaboration between students, faculty, staff and the SouthCoast community,” said Gunasekaran.

In addition to elevating the college’s standing among other academic institutions in the region and within the business community, the Pavilion allows the University to maintain competitive positioning and meet increasing expectations from consumers and stakeholders. 

The new building was made possible by the Charlton Foundation, led by businessman and philanthropist Chuck Charlton who passed away last year, as well as University of Massachusetts fund-raising efforts. The Learning Pavilion is designed by Bruner/Cott Architects, with construction managed by Agostini Construction.

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

Join us on Thursday, October 20, 2016 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Learning Pavilion. The event takes place at 3:00 pm on the main campus of UMass Dartmouth at the Charlton College of Business. Tours of the Pavilion and Reception to follow. The event is free and open to the public.

RSVP by Friday, October 14. For questions, please contact the Advancement Office at advancement@umassd.edu or 508.999.8200.

About UMass Dartmouth

UMass Dartmouth distinguishes itself as a vibrant public university actively engaged in personalized teaching and innovative research, and acting as an intellectual catalyst for regional economic, social, and cultural development.

UMass Dartmouth's mandate to serve its community is realized through countless partnerships, programs, and other outreach efforts to engage the community, and apply its knowledge to help address local issues and empower others to facilitate change for all.

About Charlton College of Business

Charlton College of Business is fully accredited by AACSB International, a distinction given only to the most prestigious business colleges. The business school's enrollment has grown to 2,000 students. Charlton College of Business has been named in The Princeton Review's 2015 edition of its "Best 295 Business Schools."