Drexel’s Bentley Hall was awarded "Best Renovation of Existing University Housing" at Student Housing Business' 12th Annual Innovator Awards on May 5. Representatives from American Campus Communities (ACC), the lead developer on the Bentley Hall renovation, accepted the accolade. Overall, ACC won awards in five of the 26 categories highlighted by the media organization, honoring the best in the student housing industry.
Built in 1972, Bentley Hall (formerly Calhoun Hall) was renovated and expanded in 2019, after Greg S. Bentley, CEO of Bentley Systems, and his wife Caroline, provided a $5 million gift to reestablish the campus building under its new name and as a new home and hub for the Pennoni Honors College and its students.
Bentley Hall welcomed 380 student residents in fall 2019. The upgrades featured all new interior finishes, new windows providing enhanced comfort and more natural light, expanded student collaborative and social spaces, new building entrance and landscaping, and alternating "quiet" and "social" lounges on each residential floor.
The two-story glass and stone addition of about 10,800 square feet is home to the Pennoni Honors College offices and seminar rooms. The College sponsors initiatives that serve 1,500 honors program students and the entire Drexel community. "This is an intellectual oasis on campus — a place where students from all disciplines can gather to discuss ideas, take seminar-style, cross-disciplinary courses, and learn more about opportunities for research, fellowships and mentoring on campus," said Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD, dean of the Pennoni Honors College. "Bentley Hall allows students to live in the same area where study and programming take place. We see this as a way for more students to be involved earlier in opportunities for an enriched and socially engaged education."
"The transformation of Bentley Hall into a dynamic living and learning community was a true team effort, made possible by the generosity of the Bentleys, the vision of Dean Cohen and her team at the Pennoni Honors College, and the excellent partnership between ACC and Drexel's teams in Housing and Residence Life, and Real Estate and Facilities," said Helen Y. Bowman, executive vice president, treasurer and chief operating officer. "This renovation project is the blueprint for our future student housing renewal strategy, and I look forward to seeing similar results when Kelly Hall is completed."
Also, in partnership with American Campus Communities, Drexel announced in 2021 the renovation and expansion of Kelly Hall, a 400-bed undergraduate residence hall also located on the University City Campus, to be completed for fall 2023.
"American Campus Communities continues to be an exceptional partner for us at Drexel, helping us create residential spaces that enhance the academic and social engagement of our students," said Subir Sahu, Ph.D., senior vice president for Student Success. "The Bentley Hall project added so much to our campus through its innovative design and partnership with the Pennoni Honors College. We are grateful for the work of ACC and congratulate them on receiving this well-deserved recognition."
More About Pennoni Honors College
Pennoni Honors College sponsors initiatives that serve all Drexel students interested in pursuing excellence. The College encompasses three units. The Academic Programs unit includes the Honors Program, the Custom-Designed Major, the interdisciplinary problem solving minor, and the theme-based Symposium. The Undergraduate Research and Enrichment Program offers research through STAR and SuperNova, mentoring through the Aspire Program, and opportunities to prepare and apply for competitive grants and fellowships. The Marketing and Media unit offers students involvement with a nationally recognized online journal, The Smart Set, and an array of programming connected to the Center for Civil Discourse, including a nationally distributed television talk show, The Civil Discourse. Please check out the links for more information on these units and the events and programs associated with them.
About American Campus Communities
American Campus Communities (ACC), Inc. is the nation's largest owner, manager and developer of high-quality student housing communities in the United States. Since 1993, ACC has provided a home to more than two million college students across the nation and as of December 31, 2021, served approximately 140,900 residents.