This fall, the University’s campuses will fully welcome back students, parents, alumni, and friends. Members of our community can revisit their favorite spots, and alumni coming back will find the familiar, traditional aspects of campus much the same. URI will also resume an ambitious plan for growth, as part of Big Ideas. Bold Plans. The Campaign for the University of Rhode Island. These new and upcoming projects tie into the campaign priorities of the URI Learning Experience and Strategic Opportunities, providing cutting-edge facilities to inspire students and faculty.
The Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering
The world-class facility that first welcomed students in 2019 was open for less than one year when COVID shut down much of campus. Named to honor the longstanding support from Michael D. ’78, Hon. ’08 and Elizabeth C. Fascitelli, including a $10 million gift for research equipment, The Fascitelli Center will put its cutting-edge labs, collaborative learning spaces, and sunlit Junius “Babe” Gertz Café back to full use this fall.
Harrington School of Communication and Media
The Harrington School, with its Harrington Hub located in Ranger Hall, provides professional equipment for audio and video recording as well as emerging digital media. The newly renovated broadcast studio in Chafee Hall served a critical role for faculty and University leaders to deliver recorded messages to members of the URI community learning and working remotely. The Hub is state-of-the-art thanks to contributions from Richard J. ’73, Hon. ’02 and Jean Harrington.
Fine Arts Center
Plans for the University’s newest building initiative include 82,000 square feet of space for the music and art departments. Along with a new exterior, the space will feature updated studios as well as new areas for digital art, graphic design, photography, and videography. The building will also offer a new lobby in front of the Robert E. Will Theatre; improved access to J-Studio, the smaller black box theater; and two new modern acting classrooms. Work has started and will take about two years.
Ballentine Hall
The College of Business has drawn up plans for Ballentine Hall, including 7,000 square feet of new space and 13,000 square feet of renovated space. The College has seen growing enrollment and looks to incorporate the latest technology used by the world’s leading employers. The Alfred J. Verrecchia Center for Business Excellence and the Kent and Diane Fannon Center for Student Success will each prepare students to be future-ready and collaborate as they would in a business environment. Other improvements include a business analytics and AI lab and an advanced financial trading room.
Narragansett Bay Campus
The Narragansett Bay Campus Master Plan sets ambitious goals for upgraded facilities to advance world-renowned ocean research and graduate education. Improvements over a 10-year period will include a pier to accommodate the new research vessel coming to URI in 2023, an ocean technology design laboratory, and a designated center for marine operations. Construction is scheduled to begin on the new pier in the fall, and the design lab is slated for completion in 2024.
Soloviev Family Basketball Practice Facility
The $8 million project has received tremendous support from alumni and friends, including a lead gift from Stefan Soloviev and his family, to transform West Gymnasium into an advanced practice facility for the men’s and women’s basketball teams. Student-athletes will have 24-hour access to training and technology to enhance their experience and refine their craft.