Ashley McGraw designed renovations and an addition to Syracuse University’s Sadler Dining Hall. The building occupies a prominent space in a rapidly expanding portion of campus. The 4,900 square foot addition creates a new identity for the facility and significantly improves the entry sequence. Along with revitalizing the approach and circulation for the building the addition also accommodates a new ware wash and additional seating. A new elevator in the addition resolved accessibility issues and a new stair improves flow from the attached residence hall. The addition also creates a more prominent presence for the dining facility on the site, making it more visible to the adjacent campus community. The site design includes new circulation paths as
well as rain gardens to reduce the amount of storm water being sent off site.
The design team explored ways to use materials in a more sustainable way. The primary exterior materials are local harvested black locust lumber siding and locally quarried blue stone. The black locust, a highly durable, rot resistant wood, is applied in a rain screen system and left unfinished. This will allow it to age naturally, turning to a beautiful gray color over time. In addition to being highly durable and cost-effective, the material is a visual expression of the campus’s sustainability goals. The dining hall also serves the adjacent SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
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