50 Years on Campus

What began as a two-room business school in downtown Manchester in 1932 became a beautiful 300-acre university along the Merrimack River. SNHU made its campus location home in 1971 after outgrowing its space on Hanover Street. Over the past 50 years, the Manchester campus has continued to grow and evolve to meet the needs of our learners. Take a walk through our history as we celebrate 50 years on campus.

1970s

Collage of images from 1970s: intersection street signage and residence halls on campus
Intersection sign in the heart of campus from the mid-1970s. New Hampshire College residence hall on the west side of campus.
Aerial image of SNHU's campus in the 1970s
Aerial photograph of then-New Hampshire College, taken in the late 1970s.
Historical image of person broadcasting on the radio
Student broadcaster airing a show in the campus radio station in the 1970s.

1980s

Group of student-athletes pose in the 1980s
New Hampshire College student-athletes showing off their Penmen pride in 1980s.

1996

Woman walks in front of Washington Hall
Opened in 1996, SNHU's Washington Hall features large community spaces and houses 248 students.

2012

Group of people cut ribbon indoors
Dedicated in 2012, the Robert A. Freese Student Center was named for SNHU Trustee Robert Freese '89.

2016

Two students walk outside of a library
While the building opened in 2014, The Edward S. Wolak Library Learning Commons was named in 2016 in honor of SNHU alumnus and Trustee, Edward Wolak '74.*
Group of people cut ribbon in front of space named Deborah L. Coffin Women's Center
The Deborah L. Coffin Women's Center, located within the William S. and Joan Green Center for Student Success, was unveiled with a ribbon cutting ceremony in 2016.

2018

Track, stadium seating at Penmen Stadium
SNHU's 1,500-seat athletics complex, Penmen Stadium, opened in early 2018.
Students stand outside of building with lit up windows
Kingston Hall, a 328-bed residence hall, opened in 2018. It was constructed where some of SNHU's original residence halls - Chocorua Hall, Winnisquam Hall and Kearsarge Hall - once stood.
Two people stand in front of window that reads The Chander Center
Laurie Chandler '89 and Clarke Chandler celebrate at the ribbon cutting of the Chandler Center in 2018.

2020

School of Engineering, Technology and Aeroneautics at SNHU
Unveiled in early 2020, SNHU's newest facility on campus houses the School of Engineering, Technology and Aeronautics.


*CORRECTION: The print version of this article stated that The Edward S. Wolak Library Learning Commons opened in 2016. We have updated this webpage with the correct information.

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