Board of Regents Approves Project Request for Renovations to D.M. Smith Building

Posted February 8, 2022

The D.M. Smith building, home of the Georgia Tech School of Public Policy, will soon be getting a makeover. On Feb. 8, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia approved a $26 million proposal for renovations to be provided from Institute funds. The outer structure will remain largely intact, and all proposed changes will respect the historical character of the building.

“We are excited about this investment in the School of Public Policy and we are grateful to President Cabrera, Executive Vice President Kelly Fox, and Georgia Tech leadership for their strong support during this process,” said Kaye Husbands Fealing, Ivan Allen Jr. Chair and dean of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. “This effort will have a tremendously positive impact on our faculty, students, staff, alumni and community partners. It will enhance our ability to provide engaging curriculum and co-curricular programs, while preserving the rich history of the building.”

The School of Public Policy is one of six schools in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. Renovations will include several upgrades to the building’s infrastructure, including strengthening compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 by creating a permanent wheelchair access feature and adding an elevator. New mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems will increase occupants’ health and comfort, as well as the building’s energy efficiency. A virtual lab and hoteling spaces will also allow members of the School of Public Policy to collaborate with various stakeholders across Georgia Tech, in the state and nation.

“Renovating D.M. Smith is essential to ensuring that the building reflects the forward-looking mission and values of the School of Public Policy, while respecting its history,” said Cassidy Sugimoto, Tom and Marie Patton Chair of the School. “I am grateful to the Board of Regents for approving the project request for much-needed improvements to the building’s infrastructure and technology and am excited to work together on this next chapter for the School.”

The building was first constructed in 1923 and named the Carnegie Physics Building after a donation from the Carnegie Foundation. It was later renamed to honor David Mellville Smith, who taught mathematics at Georgia Tech for over four decades.

Renovations to the building are planned to begin in late 2023 and conclude in Spring 2025. The School of Public Policy will relocate elsewhere during construction. Updates, as well as a chronicle of the building’s history, will be provided at https://spp.gatech.edu/dmsmithrenovations.