Barnard Hall Backfill Requests (Various)

Submitted By: Various

The upcoming opening of the newly constructed Gianforte Hall will result in vacancies within Barnard Hall currently occupied by the Gianforte School of Computing. The backfill planning process has culminated in the approved allocations listed below. Space Planning has determined that this approach represents the most equitable and strategic path forward to address and advance the space needs of all requesters and the University.

1. Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Faculty Labs: Barnard Hall

The Space Management Committee reviewed and approved the proposed allocations of labs in Barnard Hall 008 to support recent growth within the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department. The allocation accommodates two new faculty hires from Fall 2025 and the launch of the Master of Engineering in Manufacturing program. The approved plan provides dedicated research space for Assistant Professor Dr. Michelle Yuen’s soft robotics research, while also assigning space to support teaching equipment and research activities associated with the new graduate program under Dr. Erik Larsen. The Committee determined this allocation to be well-justified and aligned with programmatic, instructional, and research needs.

2. Electrical & Computer Engineering Research Lab: Barnard Hall

The Space Management Committee reviewed and approved the proposed allocations of lab space in Barnard Hall 109 to support recent applied research and student project development growth within Electrical & Computer Engineering department. They have expanding research under EPSCoR Smart Fires and Tech Hub initiatives. Additionally, Assistant Professor Parvinder Gill was hired in October of 2025 and has been awaiting a lab assignment, with a second research faculty hire anticipated to arrive in August of 2026. Barnard 109 is the current Robotics Lab, which will be relocated into Gianforte Hall. This lab will be shared between the two faculty members, and is adjacent to the Montana Microfabrication Facilities, which share research synergies.

3. Engineering Mechanics Learning Center: Barnard Hall

The Space Management Committee reviewed and approved the proposed relocation of the Engineering Math Learning Center (EMLC) to better address documented overcrowding and high student demand. The approved plan relocates the EMLC from Roberts Hall 317 to Barnard Hall 254, providing a net gain of 760 square feet in a larger, ADA-accessible, air-conditioned space better suited for tutoring, collaboration, and student support. The relocation supports the EMLC’s service to more than 700 students per semester across multiple engineering and civil engineering courses. As part of the approved allocation, Roberts Hall 317 will become available for reallocation. The Committee determined this proposal to be well-justified and aligned with student success and instructional support priorities.

4. Physics Help Center & Graduate Student Space: Barnard Hall

The Space Management Committee reviewed and approved a set of space reallocations to address documented capacity constraints and growing student demand within the Physics Department. The approved plan expands and relocates the Physics Help Center to Barnard 259, with Barnard 259A reconfigured to provide additional space for individualized tutoring. This relocation significantly improves access for the approximately 1,200 students enrolled in introductory Physics courses each semester and enables proximity to the Engineering Math Learning Center to support collaboration and cross-service coordination. The department will retain its Peer Mentoring Program in Barnard 252, while the former Help Center in Barnard 230 and vacated space in Barnard 253 will be repurposed to provide much-needed graduate student workspace in a hoteling model. The Committee found the proposal to be a comprehensive and effective approach to strengthening student support services while accommodating graduate student growth.

5. Dr. Rachael Filwett Research Lab: Barnard Hall

Due to the significant growth of Dr. Rachael Filwett’s Solar Physics research program, the Space Management Committee reviewed and approved a proposal to relocate her research operations from Barnard 253 into Barnard 338. The existing 268 SF lab in Barnard 253 no longer adequately supports the program’s research activities and a growing cohort of undergraduate and graduate researchers. The approved allocation provides 890 SF of dedicated research space, improves workflow efficiency, and supports expanded student engagement and outreach efforts, including visiting teacher-researchers. The proposal also accommodates displaced Physics graduate students through a hoteling model in Barnard 253 and enables shared-use bench space for a newly hired research faculty member.

6. Chemical & Biological Engineering (ChBE) Main Office Relocation: Barnard Hall

The Space Management Committee reviewed and approved Chemical & Biological Engineering’s request to relocate its main departmental office from Roberts Hall to Barnard Hall in coordination with broader NACOE space planning efforts. The approved allocation establishes a centralized, accessible, and climate-controlled departmental suite in Barnard 357, with supporting functions in 357A and 357B, and relocates the department head’s office to Barnard 353. This configuration improves operational efficiency, enhances collaboration through proximity to the NACOE Student Advising Center, and allows for shared administrative resources. The relocation also results in the release of space in Roberts Hall rooms 213, 214, and 216 back to the university space pool for future reallocation.

7. Chemical & Biological Engineering (ChBE) Faculty Offices: Barnard Hall

The Space Management Committee reviewed and approved Chemical & Biological Engineering’s request to relocate several faculty offices into Barnard Hall in coordination with the relocation of the department’s main office. The approved allocations include Barnard 353 for the incoming department head and Barnard 354, 355, 356, and 358 for ChBE faculty currently housed in other buildings. This relocation alleviates faculty crowding, supports expanding research programs, strengthens connections with the Center for Biofilm Engineering, and provides convenient access to shared conference space in Barnard 347. The move is anticipated to vacate approximately 700–800 square feet of space elsewhere on campus, which will be returned to the university space pool for future reallocation.

8. Center for Biofilm Engineering (CBE) Lab Expansion & Graduate Space: Barnard Hall

The Space Management Committee reviewed and approved the Center for Biofilm Engineering’s request for space within Barnard Hall to support expanded laboratory capacity, improve research workflow efficiency, and accommodate projected program growth. The approved plan aligns graduate student work areas more closely with faculty locations and converts Barnard 335 from graduate student space into a dedicated instrument research lab. Additional allocations support the development of a bioinformatics and bioimaging computer lab, and dedicated equipment rooms. Designating Barnard 345, 348, 349, and 350 for CBE use provides flexibility to meet evolving programmatic needs while consolidating graduate students through a shared hoteling model. The plan also includes allocation of a windowed office in Barnard 365 for the CBE Director, allowing the existing embedded office in 366E to be repurposed to support staff consolidation or other Center needs.

9. Image & Chemical Analysis (iCAL) Additional Space: Barnard Hall

The Space Management Committee reviewed and approved the request to reallocate space to better support iCal operations and administrative needs within Barnard Hall. Barnard 340, originally designed as a lab service area, is currently being used as a shared office for the Director and two staff members and no longer adequately supports program requirements. The approved allocation provides a private office for the iCal Director in Barnard 352, a shared office in Barnard 346 for two managers with capacity to accommodate visiting scientists and small meetings with facility users, and dedicated support space in Barnard 344. This reconfiguration improves functional separation of lab services from administrative and support activities, enhances engagement with facility end users, and appropriately accommodates existing instrumentation, resulting in a more efficient and effective use of space.

Resolution

Date: January 9, 2026

Space Management Committee has unanimously approved all of the the allocations discussed in detail above.