Department of Geography / MeteorologyWith the proliferation of new technology, the fields of communication, geography and meteorology are overflowing with new job opportunities and the popularity of these programs at colleges and universities continues to soar. At Valparaiso University, the departments of communication, geography and meteorology are positioned to take advantage of this explosion of interest.
DO was retained by the University to design a facility that would be at the forefront of new technology for the Geography/Meteorology Department. The new facility is adjoined to the existing Schnabel Hall which houses the Communications Department. The program called for increases in classroom, laboratory and administrative space and enhancement of the building as a campus communications center. Student spaces outside of the classrooms and labs also were given critical consideration to provide social collaborative opportunities.
The project included lab classrooms, a weather center computer lab, a second-floor walk-out observation deck, weather balloon launching equipment and an interface with a proposed campus-sited Doppler Radar system.
AIA NI Honor Award, 2007