Robert S. Berens
Principal
Andover Hall, Harvard Divinity School’s primary building, opened in 1911 and remained a largely unchanged historic campus icon for decades. Naturally over time, changes in curricula and expansion of the HDS student body led to programing and space issues at the school.
In 2018, HDS selected Annum Architects to design a 12,000 sf new addition, and orchestrate updates to the historic building. Renamed Swartz Hall after a generous gift from Susan Shallcross Swartz and James R. Swartz ’64, the new wing added classroom, dining and collaboration spaces to the existing 60,000 sf building.
Acentech’s team provided expert guidance on room acoustics, sound isolation, and HVAC noise control throughout the project. The new multi-faith chapel, designed to inspire and serve all members (and all faiths) within the HDS community, had its own design challenges. Acentech’s acoustic solutions deliver excellent listening conditions in this space, while at the same time lending flexibility to accommodate a variety of community functions, from quiet prayer and meditation, to musical performances and traditional religious services.
Our Technology group collaborated with the design team on wired and wireless internet solutions for each space in the building. We also designed state-of-the-art audiovisual systems for teaching, collaboration and presentations – from projectors, cameras, monitors and touch panel controls to assistive-listening systems.
The HDS community is now poised to meet technological and programmatic challenges head-on, in a streamlined, beautiful and welcoming new facility.
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