After over a year of renovations and reconstruction, the Margery Reed building reopened April 8. A re-opening ceremony was held at 11 a.m., followed by an open house at 11:30 a.m.

The building houses the Office of Undergraduate Programs staff, the Daniels Office of Marketing and Communications, Executives-in-Residence, visiting faculty and staff of the Strategic Initiatives Program.

Originally constructed in 1929, Margery Reed features nine remodeled classrooms with new audio visual equipment and flexible furniture “so faculty can deliver content in a variety of ways,” according to MacMillan. There are 11 classrooms in total. The Reiman Theater space, which seats 169 people, underwent some significant changes according to MacMillan, such as the installation of a video wall.

“The old theater was essentially gutted and a new, tiered presentation hall installed in its place,” said MacMillan. “While there were changes to the stage area, the original Shakespearean murals have been preserved and restored.”

According to a March 27 news story from 9News, artist John Edward Thompson was paid $6,000 to paint the murals. He was a professor at DU.

The $9 million project finished in late March and was funded by gifts from donors and other university funds.

“The Daniels Building was sized with the idea that Margery Reed would become a part of the Daniels suite of buildings at some point,” said MacMillan. “Although undergraduates have classes and study at the Daniels Building, Margery Reed will offer a special place for undergraduates to congregate, study, and meet with advisors who serve them exclusively.”

The renovation was carried out by SLATERPAULL Architects and DU architect Mark Rodgers.

“Margery Reed is one of the gems of the early campus architecture,” said MacMillan of the project. “We have tried to preserve the integrity of the time period it represents while at the same time providing a functional and modern facility for the needs of today’s students.”

The building is named in honor of Margery Reed. She received her Bachelor’s in English in 1919 and taught as an assistant professor in the English department, marrying fellow English professor Paul Mayo. After succumbing to illness following a trip to Peru, her mother Mary Reed donated $100,000 to the $225,000 cost of a new building, dedicated to her daughter in 1929.