Mary Baldwin plans $2.5M building renovation

Faculty, staff and students at Mary Baldwin University should see a major transformation in their oldest academic building thanks to a $1 million commitment from the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation as part of the $2.5 million renovation of Carpenter Academic Hall.

“What we need to do is align the actual architecture with how we teach,” says the university’s provost, Paul Menzer. “For the last two years, we have been entirely renovating the undergraduate curriculum, and that affects every aspect of the university.”

Mary Baldwin will update Carpenter Hall, its anchor academic building for undergrads, to create more functional classrooms and add common spaces for students to gather. Its classrooms, currently structured for lectures, will be redesigned to foster more interactive teaching and project-based learning.

“The building really needs significant interventions to turn it into what you really might call a state-of-the-art 21st century learning space, which it really isn’t right now — it’s a 20th century state-of-the-art learning space,” Menzer says.

The late Leona B. Carpenter, the foundation’s co-founder, attended Mary Baldwin in the 1930s. “We have supported Mary Baldwin for many years. We have a historical relationship with them,” says Diane Collins, the foundation’s co-executive director.

Mary Baldwin will be raising funds from additional donors to secure the foundation’s commitment, as well as pay for the entire project.

“We have to raise $500,000 by December 2025 to unlock the $1 million,” says Mary Harvey, vice president of university advancement. “We are aiming to raise the rest of the $2.5 million to do all the renovations.”

The project will be divided into two phases, with the first phase covering infrastructure — everything from HVAC and mechanical to electrical and plumbing to tech upgrades supporting virtual learning and improved internet access.

“The second phase will target appearance and functionality,” Menzer says, including classroom redesigns, the addition of common spaces and cosmetic improvements like new paint and carpeting.
The university will be raising as much money as possible this year to meet its December deadline and continue raising funds through a large, comprehensive campaign.

“We won’t have a date to start renovation until the money is in hand,” says Harvey, although Menzer hopes first phase work could begin as early as this summer. She adds, “We hope it will attract even more students to campus.”

Associate Editor Katherine Schulte contributed to this story.