Denison University Breaks Ground on Center for Data Reasoning & Visualization

Denison University broke ground in February of 2025 on the Center for Data Reasoning & Visualization in Granville, Ohio. Designed by The Collaborative, the $35 million project will rejuvenate the 21,250-sf Doane Hall and create a 17,700-sf addition. This dynamic new home for the departments of computer science and data analytics will position Denison to be the first liberal arts college with a state-of-the-art campus hub devoted to integrating data across the curriculum. 

Accommodating courses in applied mathematics, digital humanities, financial economics, and data for political research, the donor-funded structure will feature three technology-rich, multipurpose classrooms designed for teaching coding and programming. Labs for robotics, virtual reality, and data visualization will offer unique opportunities for immersive education, complemented by research spaces, presentation venues, conference rooms, and offices. Students and faculty from all academic departments will have access to the building's sophisticated facilities and resources.

While interior environments will be reimagined and modernized, the historic exterior of Doane Hall will remain intact. A new seating area in the eastern part of the quad will promote informal interaction, with an outdoor classroom leading to the gateway staircase.

Supporting a pedagogy that embraces real-world problem solving, the center will foster connections with the growing technology corridor in central Ohio, forging new pathways for career development with companies such as Microsoft and Intel. Barton Malow is the general contractor for the project, which is slated for completion in August of 2026.