Batten Global Innovation Nexus

A critical component of the Darden Grounds Master Plan includes investment in the core community spaces at the heart of Darden. This includes expanding the School’s central space to create an open community area that incorporates inspiring architectural features and encourages collaboration and greater connectivity between students, faculty, staff and guests. Batten Global Innovation Nexus will place the Batten Institute at the heart of Darden academic buildings and create vibrant entrepreneurial and technology-forward spaces.

The central corridor of Darden is envisioned to be enlarged and reimagined in the Darden master plan developed by Robert A.M. Stern, the architectural firm that designed the original buildings on Darden Grounds. The central spaces, extending from the PepsiCo Forum on two levels, will connect with the Classroom Building and the Abbott Center and serve as the central nexus for student success, academic innovation, entrepreneurship and technology at Darden.

Dean Scott Beardsley

In these spaces, the pioneering spirit of Frank Batten Sr. will live on.

Dean Scott Beardsley

The new spaces will connect areas of Darden and provide students with easy access to student-centered services, Darden Media, the recently relocated iLab, and spaces for collaboration, learning and dining. The collection of updated spaces over three floors comprising the “Batten Global Innovation Nexus” will physically and intellectually bring the School and the Batten Institute’s mission together and make all of the Darden Grounds more accessible.

Be a part of Darden’s fulcrum moment.