Spelman College proudly hosted a special celebration in honor of the generous donors whose contributions helped bring the Mary Schmidt Campbell Center of Innovation & the Arts to life. This event marked a major milestone in our ongoing efforts to expand creative, technological, and interdisciplinary opportunities for current and future Spelman students. We are deeply grateful to every supporter who made this moment possible and invite you to enjoy highlights from all events hosted to celebrate the opening of the Mary Schmidt Campbell Center of Innovation & the Arts.
Purposefully designed to unite artistic expression and cutting-edge technology, this vibrant new home is already enriching the student experience and advancing Spelman’s legacy of excellence and innovation.
Named in honor of Spelman’s 10th president, who led the College for seven years, this state-of-the-art building embodies the vision of creating a dynamic space where Spelman’s students in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) can engage, collaborate, and innovate.
"This center was designed to be more than just a building —it is a place where creativity and discovery converge, where artists, scientists, and entrepreneurs can push boundaries and redefine what is possible. It represents the heart of Spelman’s commitment to innovation, interdisciplinary excellence, and community engagement." — Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D., President Emerita, Spelman College
"When Spelman broke ground on the Mary Schmidt Campbell Center for Innovation & the Arts, I was honored to stand with a shovel in hand and experience a historic moment in our College’s journey. As an alumna, a former chair, and a proud chemistry graduate, this center holds special meaning for me. It embodies not just the scientific and artistic innovation that transformed my own Spelman experience but the limitless potential it offers to future generations of Spelman women." — Interim President and Chair Emerita, Spelman College
Defining a new “front porch” to the campus, the Center strengthens Spelman’s connection to the surrounding community by facing out towards the neighborhood and enlivening the streetscape. The building’s color palette pulls from Georgia’s red clay soil and masonry buildings on campus.
“The Center for Innovation & the Arts is designed to welcome a mix of people and ideas from across the campus and community. We wanted the building to create new connections between disciplines, and to help find synergies between Spelman and the broader neighborhood,” said Jeanne Gang, Founding Partner of Studio Gang. “Flexible spaces for learning and gathering throughout the building make it a place where collaboration can thrive.”
Rooted in the historical significance of porches as spaces for connection, Spelman’s porch will bridge the College with the West End and greater Atlanta communities through curated events, collaborations, and partnerships.
Spelman also affirms its commitment to sustainability through the CI&A. It is on track to surpass the College’s standard for all buildings to achieve at least LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification. The building accomplishes this through performance-based strategies like passive cooling, reduced energy use, and responsibly sourced materials.
Spanning 82,500 square feet and rising 69 feet, 6 inches across five stories— including a mezzanine—the CI&A is uniquely designed to inspire creativity and forward-thinking. It features the Arthur M. Blank Innovation Lab, an interdisciplinary makerspace where students from across the College come together to produce collaborative work, A double-height atrium, known as The Hive, houses offices, a conference and event center, and a rooftop terrace. This space also features a second gallery for the College’s Museum of Fine Art, a dance performance studio, a high-tech digital black box theatre and a small café, providing access to arts and culture for both students and the broader public.
