‘Back in 2010 the building was a dream’: Gianforte Hall officially opens to the public

MSU’s new computing building, Gianforte Hall, surpasses University standards, detailed with superb technology, integrated historical figures and art — according to local architect firm, Hennebery Eddy.  

The grand opening for Gianforte Hall was held on Sept. 10, giving the rapidly growing school of computing its own dedicated home for the first time in the program's history. Dedicated to computer science, cyber security and music technology, Gianforte Hall cost 53 million dollars and took just over two years to complete.     

John Paxton has been the director of the Gianforte School of Computing since its foundation in 2016, prior to that he served as the department head for the computer science department for nine years. Paxton said that the thought of a dedicated building has been on his mind since 2010, but he never considered it as anything more than a dream. 

“Back in 2010, a future building was a component of the computer science department’s long-term plan to become a more impactful organization. Would the building ever materialize?  That was uncertain,” Paxton said. “But happily, MSU received a building gift five years ago, and today our School of Computing is one of the occupants of that beautiful building.”

Paxton spent the last decade conceptualizing a building and using the department's old spaces in Barnard Hall to bolster his experience. According to him, his Ph.D. in computer science did not prepare him for designing cozy, student-focused spaces. 

“Even if a building gift never materialized, improving our public spaces in Barnard Hall for the benefit of students was the right thing to do,” he said. “But an added benefit was that I gained experience working with artists, designers, facilities personnel and others. This helped me formulate an articulable vision for a future building, should we ever be in such a fortunate position.

“Back in 2010, the building was a dream,” Paxton said.

On Dec. 31, 2020, Paxton received an unexpected call. “It was Greg Gianforte, who the very next day was assuming the role of governor in his first term,” said Paxton. “The incoming governor said, ‘Susan and I have been talking, and we are in a position to entertain a proposal for a building gift.’”

Paxton spent the next year collaborating on and planning concepts to present to the Gianforte Family Foundation. Following the public announcement of the project in 2022, the team broke ground in May of 2024. 

Gianforte Hall does not exclusively house the school of computing. It is also home to a state of the art recording studio and a two story film and photography studio.

“The University hopes that at some point, a Grammy award-winning recording will be produced in this incredible studio,” Paxton said. In the hall, there is a classroom specifically tailored for music technology classes, with each computer having a keyboard and sound mixing set up already attached. 

Paxton said that the building contained a number of easter eggs — hidden references to past historical figures and innovations. There are interactive wall displays, messages to be decoded and a number of art pieces that pay subtle homage to both students and the history of computing.

“One high level goal for the building is to be fun and playful,” Paxton said. “Towards this end, we embedded easter eggs throughout the building, as well as a 35-foot LED column.”

The large LED column reaches all the way up to the third floor of the building, nestled in the stairwell closest to the main entrance. Paxton said that he hopes to have seasonal themes displayed on it, and wants to feature student made content.

“Think of who the occupants of the building are,” he said. “These occupants include film students, music tech students and computing students. These are students who have the skills to develop creative content that can be displayed on the LED column.”

According to him, the initiative has close roots in one of the main goals for the building, to make students feel represented. 

There are three classrooms that especially reflect this, the Alan Turing, Katherine Johnson and Kate Hopper classrooms all feature many of the aforementioned easter eggs — which Paxton has asked to keep hidden for now so that visitors can discover them for themselves. 

“The building features classrooms that tell the stories of computing pioneers, high-quality art and museum-like exhibits,” Paxton said. “These features, along with the mass timber, the high ceilings and the expansive windows, inspire creativity and clarity of thought.”

In better articulating computing goals at MSU and broadening faculty, the computing department partnered with colleagues from the digital arts to bring their visions to life. 

Decisions made regarding design aspects of the building relied heavily on the local community, particularly staff, graduate and undergraduate students. 

“Students had strong thoughts on the quantity of outlets, the style of the bathrooms and more. Students were also very vocal that a variety of high-quality spaces were needed. This student input was then used by the program work group and the architects to produce a student-serving building,” Paxton said.

After Paxton and others watched the Student Wellness Center delay completion by years, it became a main focus for the Gianforte building committee to deliver on time and on budget. 

“Two-thirds of my time is spent facilitating the smooth operations and or the advancement of MSU’s School of Computing, for the benefit of students, the University and the State of Montana,” Paxton said.

After so long going from building to building just for classes and office hours, the students are certainly feeling the benefits of a dedicated space.

Ryan Poffenroth, a junior at MSU studying Computer Science, will spend the majority of his remaining college career within the walls of Gianforte Hall. According to him, both his and other computing students' lives have been made easier with the new buildings opening.

“I mean you can technically learn anywhere, but it’s nice to have your own spot to be like, ‘Oh yeah, this is where my major is,’” Poffenroth said. 

Evan Barth, a junior also studying computer science, said that she appreciates the diversity of seating options and study spaces offered in Gianforte.

“It’s actually pretty nice to sit in the workspaces — and I actually do like how they are individual or for two people — because trying to find an individual seat in the library isn't very easy and then I feel bad when I’m taking up a four person table for myself,” Barth said. 

According to Barth, the accessibility within the classrooms has made a difference in her learning outcome as a student at MSU. 

“The classrooms, since they are new, are set up much better than some of the classrooms in the other buildings. It's definitely easier to hear the professor, see the board and all of the people asking questions,” Barth said. 

Paxton said that Gianforte's advanced technology and well thought out planning will give room for students to strive academically. 

“I am a big believer that space matters a lot. If you're spending time in a space, do you want to be in a four wall basement with monotone walls?” Paxton said. “Or do you want to be in a space with beauty, sunlight and nature?”

According to him, if you put someone in the two environments, there would be a clear winner, and that is the core idea that they built the new hall around.