Northwestern Social Science Departments Moved to New Hub
The university relocated several departments to the renovated building at 2001 Sheridan Road in Evanston.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Social Sciences
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Northwestern University has moved multiple social science departments, including anthropology, into the newly renovated 2001 Sheridan Road building. This centralizes several academic programs that previously occupied older facilities across campus.
Why it matters
The university sought to improve interdisciplinary collaboration while addressing significant maintenance and infrastructure issues in older campus buildings. These previous locations were plagued by flooding, sewage problems, and insect or rat infestations.
The anthropology department now occupies the fifth floor of the building formerly known as the Donald P. Jacobs Center. This facility stood vacant after the Kellogg School of Management moved to a new site in 2017.
The players
Northwestern University
This private research university is located in Evanston and serves as the primary institution overseeing campus facility renovations.
Thomas McDade
He is a long-standing professor at Northwestern University who began his employment with the institution in 2000.
The details
The sociology department, Buffett Institute for Global Affairs, Institute for Policy Research, and School of Education and Social Policy also joined the anthropology department in the centralized building. These departments transitioned from various older locations, including 1810 Hinman Ave. and Annenberg Hall, to the modernized 2001 Sheridan Road site.
Timeline
The Kellogg School of Management vacated the building in 2017.
Professor Thomas McDade began his tenure at Northwestern in 2000.
Departments moved into 2001 Sheridan Road for the 2026-27 academic year.
The Big Picture
The project follows a pattern of campus modernization set by the 2017 relocation of the Kellogg School of Management to the Global Hub.
Faculty and students will move from outdated, infrastructure-heavy buildings into a modern, centralized facility. This transition is expected to improve the daily work environment by eliminating persistent issues with flooding, sewage, and pest infestations.
The takeaway
Centralizing academic departments into a single, renovated facility can significantly improve operational efficiency and safety for researchers and students. Institutions often prioritize these consolidations to mitigate the high maintenance costs associated with older, aging campus structures.
Further reading
For more background on academic research structures, explore the Social Sciences section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Daily Northwestern.
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