Capen Hall

Samuel P. Capen Hall is a prominent academic and administrative building on North Campus known as the home of Silverman Library and various student services. Capen Hall was originally on South Campus in the building since renamed to Farber Hall, but was moved to the current North Campus building in the 1970s. Capen Hall was named in honor of Samuel P. Capen (1878-1956), the 7th Chancellor of the University at Buffalo, who was celebrated as the "architect of UB" for his role in transforming the university in the 1920s to 1930s.

Today, Capen Hall is a multifunction building along the Academic Spine that includes the Oscar A. Silverman Library, the One World Cafe atrium, the 1Capen student services center, and offices such as Accessibility Resources and the Honors College (including both classrooms and the Don Schack Lounge).

History and Architecture

A different building on South Campus was originally named Capen Hall from 1953 to 1977, until the name was re-designated to the new building and the old one was renamed to Farber Hall, which is the current name today. The current Capen Hall on North Campus was constructed as part of UB's new North Campus development in the early 1970s. It officially opened in 1977, and allowed for the relocation of many university functions from the South Campus Farber Hall (the previous Capen Hall) in Buffalo to the new campus. Construction of the building completed in the same year as Norton Hall, Talbert Hall, Furnas Hall, Cooke Hall, Hochstetter Hall, and Lockwood Library. Capen Hall's architectural style includes rectilinear forms, brown brick, and Founders Plaza at its front.

Capen Hall was designed to accommodate both academic and administrative needs. It initially housed extensive library space as well as offices for top university officials. Over time, Capen's upper floors became known for administrative departments, such as the Office of the President (Suite 501 Capen) and the offices of the Provost and other Vice Presidents. A unique feature of Capen's original design was a large open atrium in the center of the building which served as the main reading room of the library, surrounded by book stacks and study carrels.

Renovations and the Heart of the Campus

In the mid 2010s, UB undertook a major renovation of Capen Hall as part of the Heart of the Campus project. The goal was to create a more student-friendly environment by clustering student services and study spaces in Capen, the figurative "heart" of the academic spine. The first phase of this was the renovation of Silverman Library on Capen's second and third floors. Completed in 2016, the $7.2 million project completely transformed 45,000 square feet of library space. The revamped Oscar A. Silverman Library features several amenities, including group study rooms with glass walls (although these can be seen through from the outside) and their own displays, open zones for collaboration and group work, video recording studios, and Whispers Cafe. It introduced a Silent Study space as a grand reading room with warm wood finishes to provide a quiet, traditional study area along with the other areas. Silverman Library became UB's 24-hour library space, allowing for around-the-clock access for students and enabling collaboration and innovation. The renovation achieved the LEED Silver certification for its sustainable design.

UB also consolidated student services into Capen Hall's ground floor under the concept of 1Capen. The 1Capen One-Stop center, opened in 2018, brings together the Registrar, Financial Aid, Student Accounts, and Parking and Transportation offices into a single, modernized location. Architectural upgrades created a welcoming entryway and intuitive signage to help students navigate services. The design emphasized open counters, waiting areas, and clear circulation for the layout. A new reception called the Buffalo Room was also built as an event space for the university administration within the ground floor of Capen.

The most visible addition to Capen Hall is One World Cafe. The three-story glass-walled structure was constructed in the formerly open courtyard area between Capen Hall and Norton Hall, and it provides approximately 55,000 square feet of new space dedicated to international dining and student gathering. It features globally themed food stations and ample seating on multiple levels. Due to its central location bridging Capen, Norton, and Founders Plaza, the cafe has become a popular spot for students to study, relax, and socialize in addition to eating. This project was a major step taken by Campus Dining & Shops and was in planning and construction for about three years, from 2019 to 2022, and opened in several phases. Read More: One World Cafe

Current Use

Some important units in Capen include Silverman Library (occupying the 3rd floor and parts of the 2nd), the Honors College (Honors classrooms and the Don Schack lounge), Accessibility Resources (located on the ground floor), and the Tutoring and Academic Support Services (TASS), which provides tutoring and academic skills workshops to students.

On the administrative side, Capen Hall houses the Office of the President (Suite 501, 5th floor) and other senior administrative offices, making it effectively UB's main administration building. The Provost's Office, Division of Academic Affairs, and some portions of central Student Life administration are also headquartered in Capen.