David Novak, a University of Missouri alum, is a renowned businessman, author, and philanthropist who founded the Novak Leadership Institute at the University of Missouri's School of Journalism. As a part of establishing this Institute, a portion of the funds was directed to the interior renovation of areas within the Academic Hall including the main entrance rotunda, two classrooms, and the corridor that connects these spaces. The design for the renovation aimed to provide a welcoming, cheerful refresh while connecting and unifying the various spaces to create a sense of identity and school pride. A major design move was to reverse the direction of an angled corridor from the rotunda, which previously provided a tight, unwelcome entry to the Institute. The conceptual form of the megaphone, an iconic instrument associated with the donor, assisted in creating this new entrance. This form draws attention and brings people toward the classrooms and creates a visual connection between the two areas of the Institute.