The Smith Center combines leading-edge information technology with space designed to promote innovative thinking, teaching and learning. The $20 million facility is the focal point for business and information technology initiatives at Bentley. It houses the David and Elizabeth Hughey Center for Financial Services, featuring a financial Trading Room (one of only a handful in higher education across country); a Design and Usability Center; a Computing and Networking Lab; a distance education classroom; 28 high-tech, interactive classrooms; 18 group-study rooms and conference rooms; and the offices of the Computer Information Systems Department.
The Smith Center is named for the parents of trustee and benefactor Robert F. Smith '53. Smith and his wife, Miriam, donated $10 million to the college; much of that gift was used to build the center.
All classrooms in the Smith Center are wired and feature access to the college network and World Wide Web via video projection, broad-band TV, and in-room computer or laptop. Faculty control these systems from custom-designed podiums with touch-screen capability to control the lights, web page projection or stop-action while using a CD/ROM, for instance. A distance-learning classroom comes complete with videoconferencing facilities and plasma screens.