A Grand Opening for High-Tech Center for Computing and Information Science

The new Center for Computing and Information Science celebrated its grand opening on October 17. The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured a welcome from President Susan A. Cole, as well as remarks from College of Science and Mathematics Dean Lora Billings, Department of Computer Science Chair Constantine Coutras and graduate student Tori Zirul.

The result of a $22.2 million renovation and expansion of the former Mallory Hall, the new 43,800-square-foot facility houses the Department of Computer Science, as well as the College of Science and Mathematics Student Success Center, Mathematics Education group, Health Careers and Upward Bound programs.

“The new Center will allow Montclair State, New Jersey’s second-largest university, to sustain and grow high-quality, high-demand science programs that are directly aligned with the state’s and our students’ needs,” says Billings. “Our College’s programs focus on core and competitive areas of STEM education. To teach students these 21st-century skills, you need a 21st-century facility.”

Cutting the ribbon are, from the left, Keynote Speaker Anthony Scriffignano, University board member Francis Cuss, Susan A. Cole, Lora Billings and Constantine Coutras.

The opening included a keynote address by alumnus Anthony J. Scriffignano ’82, ’85 MA, PhD, senior vice president and chief data scientist at Dun & Bradstreet, on “Leading Science and Technology in the Face of Digital Everything.”

The renovation project transformed existing classroom and laboratory spaces and added a fourth floor to accommodate the thousands of students who take courses and pursue degrees in computer science and information technology.

The Center features a 145-seat amphitheater; six smart teaching labs and classrooms; a specialized computer hardware lab; nine state-of-the-art research labs; as well as inviting lounge and study areas.

University strategic partner Sony Electronics has delivered a mix of classroom technologies, active learning solutions and state-of-the-art professional equipment from laser projectors to robotic pan/tilt/zoom cameras in collaborative spaces.

A second-floor skyway connects the Center to neighboring Schmitt Hall, providing high-tech common areas designed to promote creativity and collaboration, while expanded research spaces will allow the Department of Computer Science to offer new graduate degrees — including an MS in Cybersecurity and an MS in Data Science.