New Technology and Renovations to Revitalize Hughes Hall

Hughes Hall, home of the Gabelli School of Business on the Rose Hill campus, is in the midst of a transformation. With some upgrades completed during the summer and more planned throughout this academic year, the building is undergoing a series of improvements to better serve the campus community.

“The upgrades are practical innovations that will enable students, and faculty and staff members to better utilize common and academic spaces,” said Marisa Villani, Ph.D., senior assistant dean for undergraduate studies.

New audio-visual equipment has been installed in every classroom in the building, implementing the latest technology to enhance presentation capabilities and the learning experience. Frandy Medina, associate director of information technology, who led the overhaul of classroom technology, noted, “We set out to modernize our learning spaces to make them more reliable, sustainable, and effective for all of those who use them.”

Visibility had long been an issue in Hughes Hall, with light coming through its ceiling-to-floor windows often interfering with the output of traditional projection equipment. To counteract this, the IT team installed two 98-inch, anti-glare television screens in each classroom. “Now the images are as sharp as they can be due to new and improved technologies,” explained Jeffrey Haynes, senior director of information technology at the Gabelli School.

Classrooms also have been equipped with new podiums, document cameras, monitors, microphones, and speakers to complete the suite of upgraded presentation tools. “The most exciting part is seeing how the faculty is embracing the technology and using everything that has been installed,” Medina shared.

In addition to these upgrades, new furnishings will make classroom, office, and lounge spaces more ergonomic and appealing with the goal of promoting collaboration, community, and productivity. Mark Silver, Ph.D., associate dean of undergraduate studies and professor of information, technology, and operations, stated that functionality and aesthetics both came into play when choosing the new furniture. “At some level, there’s something about the aesthetics of a space that affects your attitude and productivity in that space. We worked to address that,” he said.

In spring 2026, the Personal and Professional Development Office (PPD) on the third floor will be reconfigured to incorporate private offices that are more conducive to one-on-one student counseling sessions. “Students want privacy when they’re talking to career counselors,” Silver explained.

In addition, The Fordham Foundry—the University’s Hub for Innovation + Entrepreneurship—is slated to move into a retrofitted space on the 2nd floor next year. According to Villani, bringing The Foundry to Hughes Hall is about more than just reallocating space. “By having The Foundry in the building, we’re putting it at the heart of the business school at Rose Hill,” she asserted. “Hopefully this will open doors for students who might not previously have considered entrepreneurship and show them that you don’t have to be an entrepreneur to be entrepreneurial.”

“Hughes Hall was once a hub, not just for business school students, but for students across the campus. It was known as the most accommodating space with the best technology,” said Haynes. “With these comprehensive changes, we expect to return Hughes Hall to its former prominence as the place where students want to be.”