Ralph J. Bunche Data Center Modernization
Howard's Ralph J. Bunche Data Center provides a stronger, more resilient digital foundation for teaching, research, administration, and campus life.
2026-2027 Academic Year Opening Status: Howard's campus-wide network transition to the Ralph J. Bunche Data Center is complete. The remaining physical-space and office-turnover work is underway.
One Building, Two Chapters of Howard's Mission
For years, the building at 2218 Sixth Street NW was associated with Howard's Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center. Howard established the Center in 1993 as a hub for the University's international activities and named it for Ralph J. Bunche, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning diplomat and founding head of Howard's Department of Political Science.
The International Affairs Center continues its global mission from its current home in the UNCF Building at 1805 Seventh Street NW. Howard has adapted the former facility for a new University-wide purpose: a modern data-center environment supporting the digital systems behind teaching, research, administration, residence life, clinical work, and campus operations.
From Wonder Plaza to Bunche
The project also helped prepare Wonder Plaza for its next chapter. Howard relocated the legacy data-center function from Wonder Plaza and coordinated a building-by-building migration to the new Bunche environment. Enterprise Technology Services reported in January 2026 that more than 85 campus buildings had completed the transition.
The migration followed a phased process of discovery, schedule coordination, cutover, testing, and validation. That careful sequencing allowed the University to modernize a campus-wide system while preserving the continuity of essential operations.
A Stronger Digital Foundation
The completed network transition supports improved performance, stronger redundancy, enhanced security, and greater operational continuity. It is both a technology milestone and a capital-enabling project: a largely unseen investment whose benefits reach classrooms, laboratories, residence halls, libraries, clinical environments, administrative services, and other University operations.