Salk said the Afro-American studies department is especially pleased because her department's large new space in the Barker Center--which features a special library--will finally allow it to operate more closely with the DuBois Institute.

"We're also excited to be more closely connected to the other Harvard humanity departments," she added.

The Administration also looks forward to the interaction between different departments.

"I'm delighted...by the predictable consequences for intellectual interchange and the casual (and purposeful) interaction between faculty and graduate students and undergraduates in the College," wrote Knowles in a fax to The Crimson.

Although many departments say they are excited at the prospect of relocating to the spacious new Barker Center, all of this moving has caused some upheavals.

The House and Neighborhood Development (HAND) program will soon move in to PBH, which the religion department has recently vacated.

Although there have been concerns that HAND and the community service programs already based in PBH should not share any affiliation, Judith Kidd, assistant dean for public service, said having the two programs share a building should incite no conflict.

"We're looking forward to having [HAND] in the House and having an interaction between the [HAND] program and a lot of the other public service programs on campus,' said Kidd, who noted that there have already been several planning meetings to prepare for the upcoming move. The new Barker Center for the Humanities includes the former Union building, the adjoining Burr Hall and nearby Warren House; the construction cost $25 million.

In total, roughly a dozen academic departments will relocate to the Barker Center, said McCarthy.

Eight of those departments will be housed in the former Union building while three of them will now be head-quartered in Warren House, where renovations are expected to finish by August 10.

In addition to English, Afro-American studies, history and literature and religion, other departments relocating to the old Union building include German and Slavic studies.

The Women's studies, Celtic studies, and Folklore and Mythology department will move into Warren House after current renovations are completed.

Last year, the Union's refurbishment touched off protests by alumni, who demanded it instead be preserved as a historical site.

According to Elizabeth L. Randall, the capital projects manager with FAS physical resources who has been directing the renovations for the Barker Center since design plans were first drawn in 1994, the builders tried to respect the historic integrity of the building's architecture.

Randall says she appreciates the new look of the building.