Building the Future: 7 Projects Rethinking Campus Design at Syracuse

Inherently connected to the city and its place, the university has been expanding with an impressive range of new architecture that reimagines urban life.

Syracuse has emerged as a leading architecture center. The school’s programs and pedagogy have evolved as the private research university has grown across three sites in Syracuse. From the north and south campuses to its downtown location, the school was built with an eclectic range of building styles mirroring its growth. Beyond classrooms, labs and research centers, student life projects alone encompass over 20 residence halls, six residential dining centers, as well as multiple food courts and cafés. Inherently connected to the city and its place, the university has been expanding with an impressive range of new architecture.

Building off a series on university campus projects, including Stanford and Cornell, this article turns its attention to Syracuse. Showcasing a range of scales and complexity, the following projects accommodate closely related or interconnected programs. Rethinking campus and community design to reimagine urban life, the projects represent diverse spatial and formal explorations. Built around the city’s humid continental climate with the most annual average snowfall of any U.S. metropolitan area, the designs negotiate the needs of the university context with emerging urban development and a very demanding environment.

Syracuse University Sadler Hall by Ashley McGraw Architects, D.P.C., Syracuse, N.Y., United States

As a 4,900-square-foot addition, this project included revitalizing building circulation and building out a new ware wash and additional seating. As a more prominent presence for the dining facility, the design includes locally harvested black locust lumber siding and locally quarried blue stone.

Ernie Davis Hall by Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects, Syracuse, N.Y., United States

Built to transform the building’s image, the Ernie Davis Hall project includes a light grey concrete extension at a scale that reinforces the building’s urban presence. A large cantilever opens up to a public space, while a forecourt, promenades and a double-height space encourage movement and chance encounters.

Syracuse University Center of Excellence by Ashley McGraw Architects, D.P.C., Syracuse, N.Y., United States

As one of six research centers across New York State, Syracuse’s Center of Excellence centers on environmental and energy technologies. Built on a brownfield site in downtown Syracuse, the facility is designed to function as a test bed for the building innovations that the Center promotes.

Lincoln Building by Brininstool + Lynch, Syracuse, N.Y., United States

While not part of the university campus, the Lincoln Building was developed in collaboration with the Syracuse University School of Architecture and the Syracuse Center of Excellence. The project has two residential floors and two floors of commercial space.

Dineen Hall, Syracuse University College of Law by Gluckman Tang Architects, Syracuse, N.Y., United States

This five-story LEED-certified building was made to anchor the university’s West Campus expansion. It is made with improved training facilities for the College’s championship Moot Court and trial advocacy programs, innovative library spaces and interdisciplinary teaching spaces for nationally recognized Centers and Institutes.

Syracuse University School of Architecture by Garrison Architects, Syracuse, N.Y., United States

Guided by three principles, Garrison worked to make the existing architecture building more environmentally porous and encourage communication. New programmatic elements were introduced, as well as contemporary construction to reinforce relationships with the historic building fabric.

S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Newhouse III by Ennead Architects, Syracuse, N.Y., United States

Boldly marking the gateway to Syracuse, this communications building responds to the materiality and formal characteristics of the surrounding context. As a backdrop to I.M. Pei’s existing structure, the new facility completes the complex plaza while creating an iconic and sinuous building for the university.

Author: Eric Baldwin

Based in New York City, Eric was trained in both architecture and communications. As Director of Communications at Sasaki, he has a background spanning media, academia, and practice. He's deeply committed to trying as many restaurants as possible in NYC.