Completed in 2014, the multi-phase renovation and expansion of Sleith Hall transformed Western New England University’s engineering facility into a modern hub for advanced STEM education and research. Fontaine delivered the $12.8 million project while maintaining active campus operations, completing a major interior renovation along with an 8,600 SF two-story addition designed to support the university’s rapidly growing engineering programs.
The expansion introduced new state-of-the-art Civil, Industrial, and Biomedical Engineering laboratories, including specialized bioinstrumentation labs, a physiology lab, and a fully simulated hospital suite designed to replicate real-world healthcare environments for hands-on biomedical training. Additional work included new classrooms, collaborative learning spaces, upgraded technology infrastructure, and modernized engineering facilities that support research, innovation, and interdisciplinary learning.
The project required careful coordination of phased construction activities within an occupied academic setting, along with integration of complex mechanical, electrical, and laboratory systems necessary for highly specialized engineering education spaces. The completed facility significantly expanded the capabilities of the College of Engineering and helped position Sleith Hall as a centerpiece of innovation and applied learning on campus.
