There is a little-known industrial building in Durham, New Hampshire, that has become a growing hub where industry and the University of New Hampshire meet. It wouldn’t feel like Durham without a UNH presence. Part of the industrial space houses UNH’s Northeast Passage and the John Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center.
More recently, a host of private companies have taken up residence as well, including Collins Aerospace, Klein Marine Systems, Airtho and others. To celebrate the integration of education and enterprise, a mural has been assembled just beyond the main entrance.
Spanning two walls and 854 square feet, the mural centers on STEAM — science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics — as the foundation of industry. From each side, the silhouette of a student emerges. From these figures flow silvery symbols and thread-like lines, suggesting thoughts in motion as ideas take shape within the brain’s gray matter.
These elements travel across the wall, transforming into visual language associated with STEAM. The imagery evolves into markers of industry and product as silver gives way to color. Thought becomes form, culminating in fully realized expressions of enterprise. The mural was developed through collaboration between UNH’s Olson Center staff and students, along with students from the Art and Art History Department.
The walls are bold, full of color and command attention. In the same way, the building that houses the mural is designed to invite and inspire industry.
Known as 121 Tech, the space sits just beyond campus, past the UNH dairy barns where Route 4 connects to town. Building owner and developer RJ Kelly recently completed a two-year renovation, creating an awe-inspiring, two-story, wall-to-ceiling atrium and shared common area. From study nooks to artful lighting — and even an indoor bocce ball court — the space breaks the traditional corporate mold of cubicles and fixed hours. Instead, the idea is to enjoy where you are while you work. At a time when overtime is increasingly common, spaces like this help ease the stress of long hours.
Beyond comfort, 121 Tech is a place where UNH students find themselves working side by side with businesses. The mural itself was a partnership between UNH and RJ Kelly, reflecting the collaboration happening throughout the building. Students are able to enter industry — from art to engineering — before graduation while remaining closely connected to campus.
The benefits extend in both directions. Just down the road from UNH’s main campus, people working at 121 Tech can take courses, attend events and continue their education. It’s a symbiotic relationship rich with possibility. The mural brings that idea home, making visible the simple truth that STEAM is alive in Durham, New Hampshire.
By Katie Ahearn
Photos By Katie Ahearn
