Dunbar Hall's renovation blends legacy and innovation

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—A wave of excitement is building at Western Michigan University as the highly anticipated renovation of Dunbar Hall, an academic landmark that has served tens of thousands of students over the decades, nears completion. The thoroughly modernized learning environment, made possible by a $43 million investment, is slated to open in spring 2024. 

Originally built in 1971 as part of a trio of buildings to meet the surging demand for classroom space, Dunbar Hall has faithfully served the University for nearly five decades. As the second most-utilized teaching facility on campus, Dunbar serves more than 17,000 students each year.

As the need for a comprehensive overhaul of the aging facility became evident, a visionary renovation plan was launched. Designed in partnership with Tower Pinkster and HGA, the renovated building design is intended to create a contemporary educational space that is environmentally sustainable, supports active and collaborative learning and is welcoming for all. It was made possible by $30 million in state funding together with $13 million contributed by the University and philanthropic support.

The ambitious renovation project involved stripping the building down to its structural skeleton and reimagining the interior to meet the needs of the 21st-century student. With a focus on creating a vibrant and collaborative learning environment, the renovations include reconfigured classroom layouts, cutting-edge technology upgrades and both formal and informal student workspaces designed to foster active learning and innovation.

"As we reinvent Dunbar Hall, we hope to provide students with an inspiring space where they can cultivate their intellectual curiosity, engage in interdisciplinary collaboration and further develop critical thinking skills," says College of Arts and Sciences Dean Carla Koretsky. "Our goal is to create an environment that sparks creativity and supports the success of all students."

Environmental sustainability is a key element woven through the renovation. Upgrades to the existing utility infrastructure, shared with Friedmann and Knauss halls, will greatly improve and maximize water and energy efficiency. A dedicated outdoor air unit will provide 100 percent fresh air to most of the building, and care was taken to select sustainably sourced building materials and to maximize recycling and reuse of materials during construction. The design also incorporates indoor bicycle parking; two living, vegetative roofs; and innovative exterior glazing to deter bird collisions. These and other "green" features ensure that Dunbar Hall will meet the University requirement to achieve LEED Silver certification, with a goal of achieving LEED Gold certification for this project still in sight.

Not only is the new Dunbar Hall designed to be aesthetically pleasing, it was also strategically designed to serve as a campus connector. With an 11,000-square-foot glass structure, the building will be a prominent landmark visible from Fountain Plaza and the future Hilltop Village, facilitating easy access between them.

Renewing and honoring a legacy

The significance of Dunbar Hall extends far beyond the physical space. 

Named after Dr. Willis F. Dunbar, a highly respected professor of history at WMU, the building holds a special place in the hearts of the Western community. Dunbar worked at the University from 1951 to 1970 in the history department, serving as department chair from 1960 to 1967.

Through his research and scholarship as a historian, Dunbar made significant contributions to the preservation of Kalamazoo's history. His book "Kalamazoo and How It Grew," initially published in 1959 and later revised and updated, remains a cornerstone in understanding the city's development. 

Beyond academia, Dunbar actively shared his knowledge with the wider Kalamazoo community. He served in local politics, chaired the board of the Kalamazoo Symphony Society and engaged with various organizations, including the Torch and Kiwanis Clubs, the Michigan Historical Commission, the Historical Society of Michigan and the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts and Letters. Before coming to Western, he worked in the history department of Kalamazoo College and on the staff at WKZO radio where he hosted the series "Know Your City," sharing insights into a myriad of aspects of Kalamazoo.

Dunbar's dedication to teaching and his scholarly contributions to the field of history continue to inspire. His legacy lives on in the Zhang Legacy Collections Center, where his extensive writings and research are housed.

Inside Dunbar: Media suite set to revolutionize media education at Western 

Inside, the Dunbar Media Suite was designed as a beacon of innovation in a world where media fields are increasingly interconnected, transforming the way students experience storytelling and media education. This state-of-the-art collaborative space, which includes television broadcasting, podcasting and journalism facilities, is intended to revolutionize media education in the School of Communication.

The vision behind the Dunbar Media Suite is ambitious yet intuitive: bring together various media disciplines under one roof, fostering collaboration and interaction among students from different fields. Instead of separate classrooms scattered across campus, this cutting-edge suite offers a shared space where aspiring journalists, broadcasters and digital media enthusiasts will engage with one another's expertise, sparking creative ideas and skills that transcend their respective specialties.

"For students, the Dunbar Media Suite is really going to broaden their understanding of their field and their craft, give them ideas for collaboration and a better understanding of different ways of telling stories,” says Dr. Cynthia Klekar-Cunningham, director of the School of Communication. “Ultimately, this will take our students' experience in the classroom to the next level and prepare them for their careers."

For students embarking on careers in television and broadcasting, the suite promises to provide a deep understanding of the ways journalism and audio media can enhance storytelling. Simultaneously, journalism and digital media students will gain insights into the interconnectedness of their fields with broadcasting and television. This broadening of knowledge and skills will equip program graduates to become versatile professionals capable of nimbly adapting to the rapidly changing media landscape.

Central to the Dunbar Media Suite will be sophisticated equipment and technology, intended to support a diverse array of media projects. The switcher, comparable to a newsroom's nerve center, fosters collaboration, encouraging students to work alongside one another rather than in isolation. Moreover, the suite will feature 4K technology, delivering visual and auditory excellence while remaining sustainable and upgradable. The incorporation of virtual reality equipment will allow students to delve into the immersive world of storytelling—a rapidly growing area within the media industry.

The concept for the suite goes well beyond training students in advanced technology in a standard classroom setting; it will provide real-world experiences. Students will conduct live broadcasts, collaborating with professionals from renowned media organizations like ESPN, elevating their learning and preparing them for success in their future careers.

To bring this visionary project to life, the School of Communication and the College of Arts and Sciences are raising $2 million for cutting-edge equipment. Every dollar donated will be matched, up to $1 million, doubling the impact of supporters. This funding ensures that the suite will remain at the forefront of media education for years to come. 

Beyond the benefits it will bring to School of Communication students, Klekar-Cunningham envisions the Dunbar Media Suite as a hub of collaboration across campus. 

"We want to make the Dunbar Media Suite a great learning space for students from across campus. We're open to collaborating with other units on what that could look like.”  

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