A Space for Dreaming

With the official opening of Kathleen McCartney Hall in the fall, Smith ushered in the next phase of its effort to reimagine career and leadership development. At 15,000 square feet, the building serves as a vibrant hub where students can find mentors, advisers, and peers who stand ready to guide them through every step of their career and leadership journeys. At a dedication ceremony, former Smith College President—and the building’s namesake—Kathleen McCartney said the new space stands as a symbol of her own path as the first in her family to attend college and of what’s possible when doors to opportunity are opened. “For this first-gen student, this is all a dream come true,” she said. “The work inside McCartney Hall will lift our students and lead them forward for years to come.” Following are six ways Kathleen McCartney Hall is transforming how Smith students prepare to lead and find their way in the world of work.

1. It’s much more than brick and mortar, steel and timber
President Sarah Willie-LeBreton described McCartney Hall as a “bold investment in our students and their futures,” emphasizing that its purpose goes well beyond its striking structure. The building embodies a core principle of the liberal arts: preparing students to navigate change, pursue meaningful work, and step with confidence into leadership. From the warm and welcoming main lobby to the easy access to staff offices, the building has been designed to “reduce the intimidation factor so that students can build relationships,” said Dean of Career Development Faith McClellan. “Everything good in career exploration and collaborative leadership happens through relationships.”

2. The building embodies a spirit of exploration and discovery
McCartney Hall unites the Lazarus Center for Career Development and the Wurtele Center for Collaborative Leadership under one roof. That pairing, according to McClellan, allows for a “more holistic and integrated approach.” Students might arrive for a résumé review and find themselves learning about leadership styles; they might come for a workshop and leave with a new sense of the role they’re meant to play in the world. This integrated model recognizes that professional preparation is not a checklist but a continuum, an ongoing process of discovering one’s self, unearthing one’s personal passions and potential, and acquiring the skills and habits of mind needed to lead with purpose. “We want students to explore, question, and find new things—about the building and themselves,” McClellan said. This spirit of discovery aligns perfectly with the purpose of the liberal arts, according to Dean of the College and Vice President for Campus Life Alexandra Keller. “McCartney Hall is a beautiful manifestation of what’s at the heart of the Smith experience, which is the opportunity to be set free to explore and make discoveries about yourself and the wider world,” Keller said.

3. Every room offers an opportunity for dreaming
Inside the building’s bright classrooms and workspaces, students have access to dry-erase tables, white-boards, games, and other tools for brainstorming and thinking big. That kind of playful, creative energy is exactly what former President McCartney was hoping to find in the new space. She sees the building as a place for dreaming. “Here, students can discover who they are and what they want to become,” she said. “They can develop a leadership style that fits them as the individuals they are.” McClellan considers McCartney Hall a sanctuary for students to dare to think differently about their futures. “That’s the magic of having these spaces for doodling and dreaming,” she said.

4. Sustainability is built in
Every part of McCartney Hall reflects Smith’s commitment to sustainability. Designed by the women-led firm TenBerke, the building incorporates responsibly sourced mass timber, stone, glass, and wood throughout its structure and cabinetry. Geothermal wells power its heating and cooling systems, dramatically reducing emissions. And a living roof—870 square feet of native plantings—supports biodiversity while offering sweeping views of Paradise Pond. The result is a building that does more than house programs; it models the climate-forward thinking that will shape the careers students pursue and the leadership they bring into the world.

5. Collaboration is key
If McCartney Hall has a guiding principle, it is collaboration. The building’s design—from its movable furniture to flexible classroom spaces—encourages students and staff to shape the space as they work together. Collaboration is a cornerstone of the work Erin Park Cohn ’00 does as director of the Wurtele Center for Collaborative Leadership; the word is right there in the center’s name. Students, Cohn said, are embracing this expanded definition of leadership as one that includes multiple perspectives, voices, and points of view. “Many students feel very seen by it,” Cohn said. “For them, it opens up the world of leadership to a broad array of humans who want to engage with people in lots of different ways.” Ultimately, this type of human-centered leadership has far-reaching benefits. “The return on investment is huge for our society,” Cohn said.

6. Inclusivity begins with the view
One of the building’s defining architectural features—its expansive floor-to-ceiling windows—was intentionally designed to convey welcome. In addition to offering stunning views of campus, the transparency signals that the work happening inside is open to all. “There’s something powerful about creating visibility,” Keller said. “Students can see not only what’s happening inside the building but also that they belong here—that they have an opportunity to shape the space and what happens in it.”