Next semester, Denison University will break ground on a new center that will integrate the liberal arts and data sciences.
The donor-funded Center for Data Reasoning & Visualization, expected to be completed in August 2026, will be home to the computer science and data analytics departments and will host courses in applied mathematics, digital humanities, financial economics, and data for political research. The new center will integrate real-world problem-solving across the curriculum, exposing students to data study from every angle to make Denison’s students more competitive for top internships and jobs.
“The future will be shaped by people who can work with large amounts of data, both quantitative and qualitative,” said Denison University President Adam Weinberg. “Our ability to use large data sets effectively can create a better future, but it needs to be shaped by liberal arts graduates who know how to ask the right questions, tell stories that others can understand and engage with, and ensure that our work has an ethical core. The liberal arts gives the data sciences its soul.”
In 2016, Denison became one of the first liberal arts colleges in the nation to launch a data analytics major. The establishment of the new center represents a pivotal opportunity to create a hub for education, research, and collaboration, positioning Denison at the forefront of innovation in the liberal arts — the first such college with a center devoted to integrating data and the liberal arts.
This strategic response to a world teeming with data — and a limited number of professionals who knew how to make meaningful sense of it — aligns with both student and employer needs. Data analytics and computer science are among Denison’s highest-demand and fastest-growing majors, and graduates are finding themselves in high demand.
The new center will result from the renovation of the 21,250-square-foot historic Doane Administration Building and a 17,700-square-foot addition.
Denison is investing not only in the building’s renovation but also in what goes inside: where students sit, the technology tools they will master, the workshops and competitions they will champion, and the people they will meet. These components all connect to drive student success.
“The new center will be transformative for our campus and will enable faculty to continue innovations in this field and across our curriculum to better support and prepare our students,” said Kim Coplin, provost. “Doane has long been a focal point on Denison’s campus, and in its new life, it will significantly expand our footprint for collaborative work in the data sciences.”
While Doane’s interior will adapt to the needs of a leading modern technology program, its familiar exterior and ornate finishings will remain intact. With this restoration, the exterior of the building will incorporate an outdoor classroom space that leads into a gateway staircase and a reconstructed retaining wall based on the original design. This east end of the academic quad, overlooking Granville, will offer seating areas for students and brick paths to the iconic Swasey Chapel and East Quad.
“We have raised $25 million toward the project and are continuing fundraising efforts to support not only construction of the new center but funding for technology, lab equipment, and staffing and program support,” said Greg Bader, vice president of institutional advancement. “We look forward to sharing more and celebrating our generous donors in the coming weeks.”
To learn more about this project and investment and donor opportunities, please contact Kurt Foriska, associate vice president for individual giving, at foriskak@denison.edu.