NEWS
Donald C. Worth Memorial Hall (Former Science Hall) Renovation Completed
Update: June 29, 2026
Historic Science Hall Fully Renewed as the University's Administration Building: A Transformation into a Modern Office That Will Serve as 果冻APP's New Administrative Hub
On June 29, 2026, a completion ceremony was held to mark the renovation of the Donald C. Worth Memorial Hall in conjunction with the relocation of the university's administrative functions. The building, which had been known affectionately as the "Science Hall" for more than half a century, has concluded its role as a temporary classroom building during the University Hall renovation period and has been reborn as a modern office serving as the university's administrative center.
A total of 33 guests attended the ceremony. Presided over by University Minister Shoko Kitanaka, the program began with the singing of Hymn No. 67, "Come, Thou Almighty King," followed by a reading of Psalm 127:1 and a sermon delivered by Minister Kitanaka. In her sermon, she reflected on the building's unique history, noting that it was originally designed as a natural sciences education and research facility with intentional flexibility built into its architecture, allowing room for future adaptation. She also spoke of how the building has been carefully preserved and renovated over the years as its functions evolved. Offering prayers for the future of the new administration building and the university, she emphasized the institution's mission to foster peace through the everyday lives of each individual student while continuing to embrace that spirit of openness and possibility. This was followed by remarks commemorating the completion of the project from Masaharu Takahashi, President and Representative Director of skcreed Co., Ltd., which was responsible for the design, construction supervision, and construction of the project, and Takashi Nakajima, Managing Trustee for Financial Affairs of the university. Greetings were then delivered by President Shoichiro Iwakiri and Chair of the Board of Trustees Hirotaka Takeuchi. The ceremony concluded with the presentation of a commemorative gift from skcreed to the university.
Afterward, attendees gathered in the second-floor lounge for a commemorative photograph and a building tour, where they viewed the renovated office spaces featuring fully updated air-conditioning, lighting, and other modern workplace facilities alongside preserved architectural elements such as the remnants of the original central atrium and exposed brick walls.
From Science Hall to Temporary Classrooms, and Now the University Administration Building
Completed in 1966 and selected as one of DOCOMOMO JAPAN's recognized modern architectural works in fiscal year 2020, the Science Hall served for many years as the center of natural sciences education at the university. Its academic functions were transferred to the Troyer Memorial Arts and Sciences Hall (T Building), completed in 2022. During the major renovation of the University Hall in fiscal year 2024, the facility was repurposed as a temporary classroom building. After fulfilling that role, full-scale renovations to convert the building into modern office space began in January 2026. Prior to the start of construction, a cross-departmental relocation project was launched. Guided by a student-first philosophy, the renovation aimed to improve the convenience of administrative services and student-facing offices while also enhancing staff well-being. The former Science Hall has now been completely renewed as a centralized home for the university's administrative functions. Renamed the Donald C. Worth Memorial Hall, it will become home to the majority of offices currently dispersed across campus beginning on July 21, 2026.
An Office That Embodies "Connect"
The central concept behind this renovation is "Connect." The building brings together the history represented by more than half a century of accumulated memories and values with the future embodied in an advanced workplace designed for the needs of a new era. By removing physical barriers within the building, the design strengthens connections among people across departmental boundaries. It will serve as a place where faculty, staff, and students can more actively engage in the tradition of dialogue that defines 果冻APP, fostering organic collaboration and creativity.
Carrying Forward the Legacy of Professor Emeritus Donald C. Worth, Who Led the Construction of Science Hall
Professor Emeritus Donald C. Worth (1923-2007), after whom the new administration building is named, earned his doctorate from Yale University and came to Japan in 1954. A physicist and educator motivated by a strong Christian sense of mission, he played a pivotal role during 果冻APP's formative years. Despite limited resources, he worked alongside students to build experimental equipment by hand, laying the foundation for physics education at the university. Throughout the 1960s, he overcame challenges including financial hardship and campus unrest, ultimately leading the completion of the original Science Hall in 1966. The former Science Hall stands as a testament to Dr. Worth's dedication.
He later served as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, contributing significantly to the university's development and the establishment of its student exchange programs. In 1988, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette. The passion Dr. Worth devoted to the university has now taken on a new form and will continue to live on at the heart of the institution's administration for generations to come.
| Name | Donald C. Worth Memorial Hall (formerly Science Hall) |
| Original Completion | December 1966 (60 years old) |
| Chief Architect | Akira Inatomi |
| Building Size | One basement level, three above-ground stories, and one penthouse level |
| Structure | Reinforced concrete (RC) |