As you explore the King Center, each stop will introduce you to the thoughtfully designed spaces that support innovation, collaboration, and hands-on learning, preparing our students for the future.
Welcome to Knobel Hall and the King Center for Data & Innovation
Welcome to Knobel Hall and the King Center for Data & Innovation. The façade and older portion of the building were originally built in 1895 as the Doane Academy, a college preparatory school that closed in 1927. Before renovations began during the 2024-25 academic year, the building housed the president’s office, the provost’s office, and several other administrative offices.
In 2025, the building was renamed Dale and Tina Knobel Hall in recognition of a lead gift from the Sherman Fairchild Foundation honoring President Emeritus Dale Knobel and his wife, Tina. Knobel served as Denison’s president from 1998 to 2013. Today, Knobel Hall is home to Denison’s computer science and data analytics departments and serves as a campus-wide resource for courses across disciplines.
During the renovation, the project team carefully preserved the building’s original architectural character. The exterior façade was retained, while the 21,750-square-foot interior was completely renovated. The project also included a 15,700-square-foot addition establishing the King Center for Data & Innovation, named in honor of lead donors Emily Hauser King and Robert E. King.
The King Center prepares Denison students, regardless of major, for careers in data and technology. Through partnerships with campus organizations, alums, and the broader community, students can expand their learning beyond the traditional classroom through experimentation, creativity, collaboration, and applied problem-solving.
Data Visualization Lab
The Data Visualization Lab is a space designed for collaboration and discovery. The lab’s dark walls help reduce visual distractions and make the digital displays easier to see. The room includes a large interactive screen and workstations for six student groups.
Students can connect their computers to their table’s display, and the professor can bring any group’s work onto the main screen for class discussion. Although it is a specialized lab, it also functions as a flexible classroom.
Classroom
Room 109 is a classroom designed for approximately 32 students, although most classes using the space will be smaller.
The flexibly designed room supports several styles of teaching and learning. Students can work independently, collaborate in groups, or participate in full-class discussions. It features tiered seating, projector and display technology, and laptop connections.
Whiteboards are located throughout the room, including movable whiteboards that students can bring directly to their tables.
You may also notice the dot pattern on the windows. These markings help prevent birds from flying into the glass while preserving excellent views of the surrounding campus.
This classroom was made possible by the generosity of Art Steinmetz, Class of 1980, and his wife, Carrie Steinmetz.
Robotics and Machine Learning Lab
The Robotics and Machine Learning Lab supports hands-on work in robotics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. The adjacent storage area houses equipment, robotics materials, and other project supplies.
This lab may support Denison’s new minor in machine learning and artificial intelligence, approved by faculty in December 2025. It’s just a recent piece of the college’s ongoing mission to ensure all students enter the workforce fluent in data and versed in the technological advances they will need to succeed in a rapidly changing world.
Virtual Reality Lab
Welcome to the Virtual Reality Lab. The room has dark walls and plenty of open space, allowing students to safely move while using virtual reality headsets.
The lab allows students to view and interact with their work in three dimensions. For example, a course focused on shopping in ancient Rome has used virtual reality to reconstruct ancient objects and environments, giving students the opportunity to examine them in a more immersive way.
Across from the Virtual Reality Lab are the offices of Denison’s digital technology specialists. These staff members are experts in the building’s technology and help students and faculty incorporate digital tools into teaching, learning, and research.
Hardware Classroom
Welcome to Room 204, a classroom designed for approximately 24 students. Known as the Hardware Classroom, the space includes portable whiteboards and sliding whiteboard panels. The room is equipped with plenty of outlets where students can easily plug in hardware and secure storage.
As you continue throughout this floor, you’ll see offices for faculty and staff from Computer Science, Data Analytics, Data for Political Research, and the King Center. Rather than separating each program into different areas of the building, these offices are intentionally interspersed to encourage communication and collaboration across departments and disciplines.
You’ll also see small huddle spaces throughout the floor where students can work together or meet with faculty members. Each reservable room has a screen outside displaying its schedule, making it easy to check availability or reserve the space.
The Brickman Lookout
Room 218 is known as The Brickman Lookout, a flexible space made possible by the generosity of Lisa Wolff Brickman ’83 and Daniel Brickman ’80. This collaborative lounge can be used for networking events, club meetings, informal gatherings, and other programs. It is reservable, but students may also use it as an open study and collaboration space when it’s available.
Nearby, Room 216 serves as the Executive Conference Room, hosting board meetings, visiting employers, networking events, and meetings with external partners.
Together, these spaces provide a variety of settings for students, faculty, staff, alums, employers, and other partners to connect.